1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15

Back                                Continued

Best Pedi-Cures. Podiatry students from Barry University get "hands-on-feet" experience. Every two months, select students set off for the Yucatan to perform free foot surgeries on children and the elderly. "It’s easy to love a child, but older people need help, too," says Dr. Charles Sullivan, professor in the School of Graduate Medical Sciences. A charitable committee has helped to fund the trips since July 1996. The podiatrists work at one of three Mexican hospitals and have completed over 60 operations. Accompanied by their residence directors, the future foot doctors get a unique opportunity to scrub in on surgeries.

Best Show Choir. No sour notes here. The Central Florida Community College choir Variations has earned high marks for years at the State Show Choir competition, and this past year was no exception, says Don Tyler, choral director and founder. Variations has performed on four cruise ships throughout the Caribbean and is invited annually to the Disney World Show Choir competition. The group also has visited Chicago and performed in Vienna, Austria, and Scotland. Variations sells-out their shows three weekends a year at the Ocala campus and once a year at the Citrus county campus. Programs this year include swing music, as well as medleys from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The group is in high demand throughout the community and commands a minimum contribution of $500 to appear offcampus.

Most School Spirit. After 10 years without even one mascot, the University of West Florida now has two: Argie and Michelle. Student Michelle Oliver adapted her Halloween costume of Xena: Warrior Princess into a character resembling an Argonaut, which in classical mythology, is a member of the group that sailed with Jason in search of the Golden Fleece. "When I saw the costume in the fabric store, I figured it could have a dual purpose," Oliver says. "I was Xena for Halloween, and it took me about two days to turn it into an Argonaut." Little did Oliver know that a few months later she’d wear it as she cheered on her school’s basketball team. To adapt the outfit, Oliver added a green cape with blue trim, blue skirt flaps, and a helmet. "I haven’t missed a home game since I made the costume," she says. "I just get out there and act silly."

Most Creative Service Project. Anyone for bagels and cream cheese? The University of Miami’s Hillel Jewish Student Center sponsored a Bagel and Cream Cheese Making Marathon last September to benefit Camillus House, a homeless shelter. The Jewish Student Center bought bagels and cream cheese, and Bagel Barn donated two dozen bagels. In two hours, eight dozen bagel sandwiches were ready to be delivered to Camillus House. In appreciation, each of the 61 sandwich-makers received a flyer with a quote from the Talmud that stated the importance of community service. Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity helped out by running errands for the HJSC and making sandwiches. "The event was quick and easy, but effective," says Karen Maerovitz, an HJSC member.

Best Free Computers. Something for nothing? Usually too good to be true. But University of South Florida computer science student Bobby Russ has only the best interests of needy USF students at heart when he builds computers from cybertrash then gives them away. He runs "Free Helping Hands" out of his dorm room in his spare time. Russ scavenges the campus for old computer parts to provide systems with the basics – word processing and internet access – for students who need to do assignments but don’t need all the extras. He has built and donated five computers in the past year.

Best Voting Victory. Edward Waters College’s Rahman Johnson found a solid ground to help plan the future of his community. He recruited a dedicated group of 200 students to help him campaign for District 5 Duval Soil and Water Commissioner. "I wanted to serve the community, affect the future, and make a change," Johnson says. During Johnson’s campaign, more than 1,600 students registered to vote with the help of his volunteers. Best of all, Johnson won, with double the votes of his opponent, making him the youngest African-American elected to public office in Florida, at the ripe old age of 22. "We broke a lot of racial, social, and economic barriers," he says. While Johnson doesn’t get a salary for his non-partisan position, his reward will be completed campaign goals, such as having a more visible commission, increasing waste removal programs, and offering scholarships.

Best Wild Wild Westfair. The good, the bad, the ugly, and more than a dozen Broward Community College students volunteered at Westfair to help the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County raise a fistful of dollars. Held in March at the Bergeron Rodeo, the five-day benefit is a country western celebration featuring mechanical bull rides, a full-scale rodeo, monster truck competitions, antique displays, a petting zoo, and a shoot-out in a western-themed bank robbery. More than 50,000 urban cowboys turned out for the event, some even dressing as bandits or saloon girls. "The success of the event hinges on our ability to recruit volunteers," says David Hughes, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward, who reports that last year’s Westfair raised $60,000. "Because the funds go to young people, we like to have them involved."

Back                                Continued

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved