Selgrade Finalist for Vermont Student Citizen Award

Author: Becky Ruby Staff Writer

Sara Selgrade '02 has been working with Project Independence, a day care center for the elderly in the town of Middlebury, since she was a first-year student.

Selgrade said that earlier this fall she saw another opportunity for her to help Project Independence: the Vermont Student Citizen Award.

The award, newly created by the Shelburne-based Vermont Teddy Bear Company, is given to a student in Vermont who contributes to his or her community in a positive way.

Each college and university in Vermont nominated one student for the award. Selgrade received Middlebury's nomination.

The recipient of the award, the nominating academic institution and the community group each receive a $1,000 check in recognition of the winner's service.

"It appealed to me because I knew the organization would also benefit from the award," Selgrade explained. Project Independence, located in a converted house next to the Middlebury Inn, is currently undergoing a capital campaign, and Selgrade said the money would help the organization build a new home for its elderly services.

In a letter published by the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, the award was described as honoring student volunteerism on Vermont college campuses.

"Too often college students' positive contributions [to the community] are not recognized," the letter explained. "We want to work with you to change that."

Selgrade was one of 10 Middlebury students who applied for the nomination, said Tiffany Sargent, director of Service Learning and Student Employment.

The Vermont Student Citizen Award is sponsored in conjunction with the Vermont Higher Education Council, Vermont Life Magazine and the Vermont Campus Compact, which is a statewide network of college and university presidents co-founded by President John McCardell.

The Compact's mission closely approximates that of the Vermont State Citizen Award, said Sargent. Both focus on service learning, public service and engaged citizenship, which Sargent defined as student participation in the greater society.

Sargent said that Selgrade exemplified these qualities. Selgrade has worked with Project Independence on a variety of activities. She said that she assists the elderly people in the program by spending time individually with them, running programs such as Bingo and shuffleboard and serving food.

"It's a place where the elderly can go, meet new people and have a good time. I love working there," she said.

Eric Covey, Selgrade's supervisor and Project Independence's Program Coordinator, said that Selgrade had been a great help in both programming for the elderly residents and in recruiting other students to volunteer at the house.

"She's just great," said Covey. "She really deserves this award."

The winner of the Vermont Student Citizen Award will be announced within the next two weeks.

"Everyone is really a winner here because every finalist has been specially selected to represent his or her school because of his or her service record," said Cal Workman, public relations manager for the Vermont Teddy Bear Company.

"We were very excited about all of the applications."

Selgrade said that she was happy that student volunteers were being recognized.

"I think it's really important for students getting an amazing education at Middlebury to also participate in the life of the town and contribute as much as they can," she said.