service award medalists 2020 commitment to · 2020-05-27 · commitment to service award recipient...

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Brandeis University

The Department of Community Service

2020 Commitment to Service Award Medalists

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Sarah Ernst Hina PatelTalia Loeb

Devon CrittendenMatthew Nadler

Theresa WeisMiranda LassarDavid Bressler

Ruth AdadeMichele EtzbachAudrey Grotheer

Haley DirectorMiriam Krugman

Gold Medalists

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Sarah ErnstGold Medalist

Completed 1,235 hours of service!

Volunteered with:Waltham Group - Big Siblings, Community Connections, Executive Board, Service Without Borders, SPECTRUM; RC/CLIF Fellow (2017-2018); CEAP (2019-2020); Celebration of Service Planning Committee (2018-2020)

Volunteered at: Drumlin Farms, Stanley and Plympton Elementary School, & Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

“Forming a bond with my little sister at Stanley Elementary

School, where I got to see her grow these past three years! Also, I have to say getting to go to Drumlin Farms and pet all the sheep after our day of

service!”

Most Memorable Volunteer Experience

Commitment to Service Award Recipient

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Hina Hitesh Patel Gold Medalist


Volunteered with:Food Recovery Network, Junior Brandeis Achievers, & Prospect Hill Kids’ Club

Volunteered at: Salvation Army and Bristol Lodge, Plympton Elementary School, Prospect Hill Terrace Community Center, & Boston Children's Hospital at Waltham

“During one of the first food recoveries that I attended as part of the Food

Recovery Network (FRN), while bringing in trays of food to the donor site, one of the

workers sincerely thanked us for our service as it kept food on the table for so

many food insecure individuals. The Waltham community, I learned, truly

appreciates the service endeavors that Brandeis University encourages and it

benefits greatly from our food recoveries.”



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Talia LoebGold Medalist

Completed 1,206.5 hours of service!

Volunteered with:Waltham Group- General Tutoring; Waltham Group- LaCE; Waltham Group- Spectrum; & Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps

Volunteered at: Waltham Public Schools & outside of Brandeis, I was heavily involved in a Baltimore-based organization called Moveable Feast

“While there are numerous BEMCo memories that come to mind, I will not say any of them to protect the privacy of my patients. My most

memorable experience regarding my involvement in General Tutoring was

seeing both of my tutees get accepted into college! It was

amazing to see them grow over the years I had them.”



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Matthew NadlerGold Medalist


Volunteered with: Waltham Group - TAPS; CEAP Ambassador for Training and Volunteer Retention; Waltham Group President (2018-2019)

Volunteered at: Waltham Family School; Waltham Public Schools



“Without a doubt, the most memorable experience I had was through my role as Waltham Group

President in leading the implementation and first year of the Waltham Group Executive Board. Throughout a

year of transitions, we created a structure that remains to this day and creates a stronger leadership team for such an important organization that unites

more students leaders passionate about service together to create incredible new opportunities on campus, in the community, and around the world.”

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Theresa WeisGold Medalist

Completed 1,126.5 hours of service!

Volunteered with:Waltham Group -Brandeis Buddies (coordinator), Kids Connection (teen group), Hunger and Homelessness (drives), Companions to Elders (senior prom) and Executive Board (House Rep and President)

Volunteered at: Opportunities for Inclusion



“I remember one Sunday I was at Dunkin Donuts in Waltham and I just happened to be wearing my Waltham Group

Coordinator shirt. While I was in line, a parent approached me and expressed how much their child enjoyed doing JBA

after school. A few minutes later, another parent approached me and told me how meaningful their child's experience in SPECTRUM was. Even though I am not a coordinator for

either of these programs, it was still wonderful to hear the positive experiences that Waltham Group has brought for

these children and their families. It goes to show how important Waltham Group is to our community and the

impact we have!”

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Miranda LassarGold Medalist

Completed 1052 hours of service!

Volunteered with:Waltham Group- Service without Borders Coordinator & E-board; Celebration of Service CommitteeNot Brandeis - REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Bellevue Hospital Emergency Department

Volunteered at: VINE Sanctuary in Vermont, 7 Elements in Dominican Republic, Camphill in PA, Community Servings, Greater Boston Food Bank, Community Harvest Project, & Appalachia Service Project



“One of my favorite volunteer experiences was building a

chicken coop at VINE Sanctuary in Vermont my sophomore year, and then

seeing it age every time we went back as a reminder of the

mark we had made!”

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David BresslerGold Medalist


Volunteered with: Brandeis Prosthesis Club, Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps (BEMCo), & English Language Learners (ELL)

Volunteered at: E-Nable is the non-profit prosthesis club works with

“Building 10 hands and arms for children across the world during my time with the prosthesis club.”



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Ruth AdadeGold Medalist

Completed 960.25 hours of service!

Volunteered with: Alternative Spring Break - Volunteers For Israel and Waltham Group - TAPS

Volunteered at: Stanley Elementary School, Waltham Family School, and Plympton Elementary School



“I don't think I can select one memorable moment during my time at

Brandeis. Volunteering with TAPS, coordinating for TAPS, being on the

Waltham Group E-board, and gaining the opportunity to volunteer internationally with different

organizations have all contributed to memories I've made doing service in

the last 4 years!”

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Michele EtzbachGold Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group: Volunteer Coordinator for LaCE - Language and Cultural Enrichment. BEMCo- Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps, Executive Director and Field Supervisor

Volunteered at: Waltham Public Schools - McDevitt and Kennedy

“As Executive Director of BEMCo, I worked for the majority of my senior year on a

project to bring a program called "Stop the Bleed" to Brandeis. Essentially, I brought

together Public Safety, Facilities, DCL, and the Administration, to make bleeding

control kits publicly available and increase safety at Brandeis. I am so happy the kits

are finally up all over campus, and proud to be leaving my mark on Brandeis in a form that could save the life of any person who

steps onto campus. “



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Audrey GrotheerGold Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group-Junior Brandeis Achievers, Waltham Group-Eboard, & Global Medical Brigades

Volunteered at: Stanley Elementary School & Plympton Elementary School

“My most memorable volunteer experience at Brandeis happened during my first semester volunteering with JBA. The week before Thanksgiving, we were making turkey crafts with second graders at Stanley Elementary School, and we were all talking about things for which we were thankful. One of the second graders told me that they were most thankful for JBA because it was their favorite part of the day. It meant so much to hear that in that moment, and it has been so wonderful to see that student doing a JBA club every semester since.”



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Haley DirectorGold Medalist


Volunteered with: Relay for Life, Waltham Group SEAD, & Waltham Group Blood Drive

Community Partners: Crisis Text Line & Make a Wish Foundation

“Volunteering on the Crisis Text Line with my

friends!”



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Miriam Berro KrugmanGold Medalist


Volunteered with: Companions to Elders, Kindness Day, Voter Registration Drives

Volunteered at: Leland Assisted Living Home



“Kindness Day has been a hallmark of my Brandeis experience! Being involved in this wonderful initiative

for all four years of college has meant so much to me. One of my favorite memories from Kindness Day

was in 2019, during its 10th anniversary, when we held the Kindness Festival in Fellow's Garden.

Students were so happy to pack a backpack for a student in need, plant a succulent, and eat some

yummy pizza. Bringing smiles to people's faces gave me so much joy, and being able to serve the

community in this way truly encapsulates why I loved my time at Brandeis so much!”

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Erica BreymanGuille Caballero Ferreira

Rachel DovekZoe Scheier

Carmela BelizaireJennifer Geller

Alexandra Aldridge Danielle Bertaux

Silver Medalists

Rebecca OrbachOliver Koch

Pramoda BapatlaRachel Slayton

Rachel StutmanEmily See

Caylee ForschnerSravya Shankara

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Carlos Guillermo Caballero FerreiraSilver Medalist


Volunteered with:Amigos de las Americas NGO

Volunteered at: Amigos de las Americas



“My experience in Costa Rica and getting to know

people in the rural areas of the country.”

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Carmela BelizaireSilver Medalist


Volunteered with: Alternative Spring Break -- Global Medical Brigades

Volunteered at: Global Brigades



“Nightly reflections during service trips!”

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Jennifer GellerSilver Medalist


Volunteered with: Waltham Group (Brandeis Buddies: 2016-2020, Habitat for Humanity: 2016-2018)

Volunteered at: Opportunities for Inclusions & North Shore Habitat for Humanity. I also spent a significant amount of my community service time as an Emergency Medical Technician on my town's volunteer squad. As an EMT on the Morganville First Aid and Rescue Squad (in Morganville, New Jersey), I play a hands-on role in patient care through first aid, CPR, AED, and even driving the ambulance.

“One story I remember making a very specific impact was when I was talking to one buddy who worked in one of the Brandeis residence halls. I spoke to this buddy almost every day while he was working on my way to class in the morning. One day, he came up to me and thanked me for being his friend, because other Brandeis students treated him like he doesn’t exist. This hurt me inside. He is one of the nicest people at Brandeis, and no matter if someone has a disability or not, all people deserve respect. It is not fair to him that some individuals see him for his disability and not for who he is as a person — a kind, hard-working individual.”



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Danielle BertauxSilver Medalist


Volunteered with: SPECTRUM, Prospect Hill Kids Club, & TRII

Volunteered at: Spectrum, TRII, & PHKC



“Connecting with clients and being able to help provide

them support during stressful moments.”

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Oliver KochSilver Medalist


Volunteered with: Waltham Group - Brandeis Buddies, Waltham Group - Spectrum, & BEMCo

Volunteered at: GWARC

“The connections I've made with Brandeis

Buddies Participants”



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Rachel SlaytonSilver Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group (Prospect Hill Kids Club)

Community Partners: Prospect Hill Terrace

“This first experience occurred when I returned to Prospect Hills' Kids Club after summer break. As soon as I stepped into the center, a couple of the kids I frequently play and work with ran up to me and yelled, happily, "Rachel!! You're back!" I will never forget the smiles on their faces, and the smile they put on my face, when I realized how much they appreciated all the time we had spent together.”



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Rachel StutmanSilver Medalist


Volunteered with: Waltham Group - General Tutoring, & E-Board (Treasurer)

Community Partners: Waltham High School

“I have loved watching the General Tutoring program expand over my four years as a volunteer and coordinator. The number of tutors and tutees in our program have increased, as have our Mock SAT events. I am extremely proud of the program, our volunteers, and my co-coordinators for dedicating hours on end to working with our tutees and their families.”



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Sravya ShankaraSilver Medalist


Volunteered with: Waltham Group - Blood Drive Coordinator and Companions to Elders Volunteer; BEMCo; Volunteering in a Hospital

Volunteered at: American Red Cross, Leland Community Home, Brandeis, & BWH



“I have loved seeing the progress of Blood Drive and learned the importance of advocating for small yet important actions, like blood donation, that have a large and profound impact in the world. For me,

The Love is Love Blood Drive was the most meaningful. We organized a week dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ equality in healthcare by

educating people, fundraising, and signing petitions against the FDA’s ban on blood donations from men who are sexually active with men.

Now, with today’s improved screening technologies, concerns like HIV and Hepatitis C can be easily identified, and I saw the importance of

using our voices to advocate for the excluded and healthy populations that can rightfully donate blood. I received this opportunity to save lives while fighting against the stigmatization of marginalized communities; however, there is still a lot to be done in this regard. I have taken these lessons and instilled them within our current Blood Drive coordinators

as well, with whom I have learnt more about the FDA ban. “

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Shumin ChenZoe TaiRenee KorgoodJessie KinsleyIsaiah FreedmanEliana EllenbergerTucker AhlersCalista DominitzSisay Shannon-TamratGhazal Hashemipour MoussaviLauren HayashiMilan Garbutt

Bronze Medalists

Eva LinEsther HaYvonna RoderickCarmen HuangMatthew ArcemontNoa HankinBenée HershonGenevieve BrownJiahua ChenDaniel ShohamJunhan LeeJess Rosner

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Shumin ChenBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group (Companions To Elders & Blood Drive), & WATCH CDC

Volunteered at: The PEAR Institute, BeenThere, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, & Boston Children's Hospital



“My volunteer experience at the local community is one of the biggest highlights of my college life at Brandeis. It has allowed me to get engaged with the local community both inside and outside of Brandeis and interact with the

populations that I never thought I would care about before. Throughout the past four years, I volunteered mostly to serve low-income and immigrant

families, elders, and children. I witnessed and recognized the challenges that these diverse populations faced. Their stories made me realize that the things

that I have and that I thought to be trivial and ordinary could be precious or even a privilege to some of the community members. I cannot be more grateful

for what I have and want to contribute whatever I can to help them. These volunteer experiences also enabled me, an international student from China, to

break the cultural barriers. The Greater Boston area is such a welcoming community. I feel my services are valued everywhere I volunteered. This is not

only about giving. I also have gained a lot in return, including a sense of belonging, and found my values within the community. These volunteer

experiences inspired me to advocate for the needs of marginalized populations and explore a career path in social work. “

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Eliana EllenbergerBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group- Afternoon Enrichment & Alternative Service Break- YourStory International

Volunteered at: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary & Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay



“Visiting Haiti for the first time was definitely my most memorable

experience. It felt surreal when I first arrived to this country I had spent

the semester learning about. I fell in love with this beautiful country and

its culture on that trip, and hope that I can continue returning as much as

possible soon!”

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Tucker AhlersBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group-Afternoon Enrichment & Waltham Group-Spectrum

Volunteered at: Waltham Public Schools, local parents, & professors at Brandeis University



“Planting seeds for a community garden with multiple WG programs,

students, and university staff.”

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Milan GarbuttBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group - Junior Brandeis Achievers; Habitat for Humanity; SEED - Students Exploring and Embracing Diversity (Overnight Hosting Program)

Volunteered at: Brandeis Cru Service Trip; MLK Fellows - Cradles to Crayons; MLK Interfaith Day of Service; Relay for Life; & Hospital Helpers - Care One



“My most memorable experience would probably be my role as a host for prospective high school seniors. I loved having the ability to be one of the individuals

that welcomed them to campus and be a resource for them. I remember being in their position and meeting friendly and helpful students during a college search was an important factor for me during that slightly stressful time. Answering many questions about Brandeis, sharing my experience, and sometimes

showing them around was a great experience for me. I saw the smiles on their faces and seeing their

appreciation was very meaningful to me.”

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Eva LinBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group Language Empowerment Action Project (LEAP) & Habitat for Humanity

Volunteered at: English at Large & Family Literacy Program



“The end of the semester celebrations with my volunteers and ESL students in LEAP!”

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Carmen HuangBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group General Tutoring & Education for Students by Students

Volunteered at: Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center



“For the past four years at Brandeis, I have contributed a significant part

of my time to volunteer in the immigrant and education

community. My favorite part of this experience is building connections

with the students at BCNC and General Tutoring and seeing them improved over time. As someone

who believes in idea-sharing, I enjoy creating opportunities that can increase education access for

students in the local community!”

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Noa Hankin Bronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group & TRII

Volunteered at: TRII

“Working at TRII”



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Genevieve BrownBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group-Teaching Assistants in Public Schools, & MLK Day of Service

Volunteered at: Waltham Public Schools, Cradles for Crayons, Relay for Life, & Westwood Presbyterian Church



“I enjoyed any volunteer experience that involved the MLK Fellowship because

they are a group very passionate about volunteering and I’ve appreciated this community lots. This included cradles for crayons and participating in MLK

Service Day for 3 years.”

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Jiahua ChenBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Center for Ambulatory Treatment and Clinical Research (Boston Children's Hospital) & the Emergency Department (Tufts Medical Center)

Volunteered at: Boston Children's Hospital & Tufts Medical Center



“Then, each word from Mr. Bird was burned into my heart and unforgettable: When patients remain in

silent that does not mean they do not need anything because they might be too sick to ask for help, so we

should always be active with the patients, approaching them to ask them what they need. After

a brief conversation with Mr. Bird, I returned to the Emergency Department. This time I did not skip any

patients. When I saw the closed room curtain, I knew I needed to be active— the patients behind that

curtain might be waiting for me to help.”

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Jess RosnerBronze Medalist


Volunteered with:Waltham Group JBA & Companions To Elders

Volunteered at: JBA, Perkin’s School for the Blind, & C2E



“My most memorable experience would probably be my time at

Perkin’s. I loved going there every week and painting the devices

knowing I would be putting a smile on one of the student’s faces.”

service award medalists 2020 commitment to · 2020-05-27 · commitment to service award recipient...

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