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Celebration of Service Honors Two Special Undergrads With Most Impactful Service Awards

Return to Issue of July 27, 2009

The Kent State Student Ambassadors

The Most Impactful Service Award is given to a student and or group whose service project has had the most significant impact on the community. This year, two undergraduate students received the award – Andrea DiFilippo and Brianne Paumier.

DiFilippo was nominated by Coleman Professional Services, a nonprofit provider of behavioral health and rehabilitation programs. Her nominator says, “At Coleman, Andrea selflessly dedicates her time and talents to the Options Community Support and Recovery Program. The Options program places a high value on providing individuals with mental illness opportunities to participate in reintegration through education, support and skill building. Andrea quickly gained the trust of consumers and staff and developed programming designed to increase function and decrease symptoms through community awareness.“

She is also involved in the Peer to Peer Support program at the agency. The goals of that program include creating recreational activities to improve the lives of current clients. In addition, DiFilippo is also an active participant in the “State of U,” a mental-health awareness campaign that educates college students on mental health issues and local support resources. DiFilippo is described as a dedicated and natural leader whose commitment to serving the community through advocacy and program support for individuals with mental illnesses is remarkable.

Brianne Paumier’s commitment to others takes her from Kent State, to inner-city Akron, to the Gulf Coast, to a medical mission in the Dominican Republic. Her work with Third World children and their families in the Dominican Republic has only increased her desire to serve. Paumier continues her commitment to her families in the Dominican Republic by sending supplies and making a third trip this summer to provide an education and music program for the youth.

Her involvement has also taken her to the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a volunteer. Prior to her trip, Paumier conducted extensive research on children affected by Hurricane Katrina, and received second place in the Undergraduate Research Competition. Each Saturday, she can be found volunteering at Urban Vision in Akron, a program that provides hope to low-income children. This summer, she will also be a camp counselor for the program.

Paumier is a member of the University’s Conversation Partners Program and assists two international students with their English and transition to a new culture. She is a member of Kent Student Ambassadors and is also a Relay for Life participant.

Additional stories of Celebration of Service winners will be carried in future editions of e-Inside.

Return to Issue of July 27, 2009