Volunteers honored at U. reception last week

The Penn Volunteers in Public Service held their second annual volunteer reception last Wednesday to recognize students, faculty, administrators and local high school students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. The VIPS ceremony began by recognizing five particularly committed volunteers -- members of the University community dedicated to service in West Philadelphia. "[The recipients] have dedicated a lot of sacrifice and a lot of time," said keynote speaker Michael Rosenberg, assistant to the superintendent of the southwest region of Philadelphia. "It is our duty and obligation to do so." Dedication was also the key trait exhibited by the eight high school scholarship recipients. The students, graduating seniors from West Philadelphia high schools, each received a $500 scholarship for their committment to service. Special faculty honoree and Associate Engineering Professor Jorge Santiago-Aviles was honored for his mentoring program for Hispanic youth in North and West Philadelphia. "It has not been very difficult," he said. "Because here at the University of Pennsylvania, there are so many people with big hearts." The 27 honorees, according to Executive Vice President Janet Hale, exemplify this warmth. She commended "the hundreds of thousands of hours of community service" which the recipients dedicated to helping others. "Someone took the time with me when I was young," explained Patricia Briscoe, outstanding staff honoree and administrative assistant in the School of Nursing. "I can only give back what God has given me." Award recipients expressed a great deal of satisfaction with their efforts. "The reward of a single smile of thanks makes all the efforts put into the task worth its weight in gold," said Bonnie Ragsdale, director of the VIPS, in a letter to the recipients. "Thanks for helping us make a difference."