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PSC Honors Community Service Award Recipients


bryce-johnsen

Bryce Johnsen of Park Forest addresses an October 2007 meeting of the PSC Board. (Photo: ENEWSPF)

Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– The Prairie State College (PSC) Board of Trustees recently presented three community service awards to recognize outstanding community members. Cheryl Roop, of the Jones Memorial Community Center, and the S.T.A.R.S. (Students Testing and Achieving at Rich South) Council of Rich South High School, received the Michael R. Monteleone Community Service Award. Bryce Johnsen, a PSC graduate, received the James H. Griffith Student Community Service Award.

The Michael R. Monteleone Community Service award is named for the former PSC trustee of 21 years. Each nominee must have contributed in an extraordinary way to education through community service, as either a volunteer or a community leader.

The James H. Griffith Student Community Service award is named for the former PSC trustee of 25 years and honors a graduating student who has contributed in an extraordinary way to the community.

Both Roop and the S.T.A.R.S. Council were chosen by the PSC Board for the Michael R. Monteleone Community Service award because of their dedication to the people of the PSC community.

Representative George Scully, Jr., (D-80th District) nominated Roop for the award because of her dedication to the mission of the Jones Memorial Community Center. The center offers many activities and programs for all age groups and provides practical services to strengthen family ties, to emphasize the worth of all persons, and to answer a community need.

“Cheryl and the Jones Memorial Community Center serve a highly overlooked and under-served group of citizens,” said Scully. “They amaze me with their large scale accomplishments with little resources.”

The Village of Richton Park nominated the S.T.A.R.S. Council of Rich South High School because of their dedication to student success.

The nomination read, “The S.T.A.R.S. Council is a dedicated team of parents, business persons, community leaders, and educators energetically working together on behalf of the students at Rich South. Perhaps what most distinguishes the S.T.A.R.S. Council is that the members of this team are people with busy lives that still find time to show their concern for the children and school in their community. Many of the members do not even have students in school, but they possess an understanding of the importance of being part of a solution instead of just sitting back and complaining about a problem.”

The PSC Board chose Johnsen for the James H. Griffith Student Community Service Award because of his leadership and service to the PSC student body.

Johnsen served as president of the Student Government Association (SGA), organizing and participating in numerous student events. In his role as president, he attended the PSC board of trustee meetings, often addressing the board on issues relevant to students. In addition, he provided student representation and served as vice chair of PSC’s College Council. Johnsen was also sports editor of The PSC Student Messenger and a member of the Political Science Club.

“Bryce was very passionate about helping his fellow students and the college as a whole,” said Helen Manley, coordinator of student life, who nominated Johnsen. “He managed a lot, while maintaining a high GPA.”


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