Large reward to student with very large heart
Kim Benfield, a junior mass communication major and the service vice president of Gamma Sigma Sigma at GC&SU, is receiving a well-deserved, prestigious award for her countless hours devoted to community service.
Benfield is one of five regional winners of the “From the Heart” volunteer award, sponsored by Macon’s CBS affiliate, Channel 13 WMAZ, BB&T banks, and Middle Georgia Toyota dealers. Kendall Stiles, coordinator of Student Programs and Community Service and director of the G.I.V.E. Center on campus, nominated Benfield for the award. Dr Bruce Harshbarger, vice president and dean of students, wrote a letter of nomination for the award.
The “From the Heart” award is given to Central Georgians who have made outstanding contributions to the communities around them through volunteer service. The five recipients of this award will receive $500, and the sponsors will make a $130 donation to an organization of service work chosen by the recipient. The five winners were chosen from 90 nominees who were selected by churches, non-profit organizations, and schools.
“I felt really excited when I got word that Dr. Harshbarger nominated me to receive this award,” said Benfield. “I never thought that I would be chosen, though.”
Benfield will be recognized for her efforts and accomplishments at a banquet on Oct. 27 at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robbins.
“I’ve always wanted to make a difference in my community, but to see it being recognized at such a high level is a dream come true for me,” said Benfield.
Benfield is active in the G.I.V.E center at GC&SU, where her duties include organizing and guiding students who are in charge of student programs on and off campus.
“The one thing with community service is that the closer and dearer it is to your heart, the more attention and time you will give to it. One thing that I truly can say is that Kim has a heart of gold, and everything she touches turns into magic,” said Stiles. “I have been so impressed with Kim’s commitment and dedication to her community service efforts. She has motivated, encouraged and inspired many students to get more involved with community service and with the GIVE Center through her actions as well as her example.”
Benfield has recently started a new program here at GC&SU called Colleges Against Cancer. Colleges Against Cancer is an outreach program of the American Cancer Society, and Benfield said she hopes the group will be a co-sponsor for Relay for Life.
“Kim has already gotten 12 members involved with the new Colleges Against Cancer group, and they have already started making crafts for cancer survivors, working on an anti-tobacco campaign, developing a speaker’s bureau about prevention and education about Cancer, and developing a cancer buddy program, where volunteers in our community will be matched up with a cancer survivor to develop a friendship. They are planning on sending anniversary cards to the Cancer Survivors on the day that they found out that they had cancer to let them know that someone is thinking about them,” said Stiles. “They will also work directly with our Relay for Life this year.”
Harshbarger summed it up well when he described Benfield’s commitment to volunteerism on campus.
“Ms. Benfield is a remarkable student who prioritizes service to her campus and community while maintaining a rigorous academic and co-curricular schedule,” Harshbarger wrote. “Her energy and efforts have contributed significantly to the phenomenal growth of the G.I.V.E. Center and its mounting number of awards.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 5 2001. Filed under News.
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