Student wins natl. award for community activism

Most students are aware of programs like the Thanksgiving food drive or the collection of donations on Locust Walk for a food pantry. But what may not be as well known are the names and faces behind the charity events -- like College junior Michelle Tucker, who helped to initiate those programs. Because of her role as a leader on campus within the Jewish community, Tucker -- who has been involved with Hillel since her freshman year -- was one of six college leaders across the nation selected as a Burns Scholar at the Charlotte and Jack Spitzer B'nai B'rith Hillel Forum on Public Policy held in late February in Washington, D.C. At the conference, which brought together students from Hillel organizations around the country, Tucker was recognized as part of the first group of Burns Scholars for creating ethics-related programming on campus. The Jacob Burns Endowment in Ethics, created in 1989 to support campus programs that foster the commitment to Jewish ethical principles, sponsored the award. According to those who know her, it isn't just Tucker's initiative in creating new programs that sets her apart. "I remember my first semester [at Penn]. I felt lost," said College freshman Noga Newberg, who works with Tucker for Christmas in April, a community service program in the Wharton School. "[Tucker] was the one who called me up and told me, 'I want you to be involved.'" Tucker has held numerous leadership positions for Hillel. Before acting as chairperson on the Community Service Committee, she was co-president of the reformed Jewish community. Since being named chairperson, Tucker has helped organize holiday visits to the Penn Center for Rehabilitation. "It is a little depressing in that some of these folks can't really take care of themselves," Tucker said. "But you do really feel good when you see that they feel good." Tucker also worked with Hillel, the Newman Center and the Christian Association to collect canned foods during Thanksgiving to be donated to the Nutrition Initiative of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. "We were able to physically see how much good we were doing and it set a nice precedent for the different religious communities working together," she said of the event. The Hillel staff nominated Tucker to win the award for her role on the Community Service Committee. While Tucker's term as chairperson may be ending, she is still active in the community, and will be helping organize Mitzvah Day, a community-wide service day set for mid-April. She also plans to renovate a house in West Philadelphia through Christmas in April. "She has a million and one other things she does, but she never complains," Newberg said. "She just takes initiative."