06/14/93

CONTACT: Stanford University News Service (650) 723-2558

Seventeen students win dean's award for service

STANFORD -- Seventeen Stanford students - including six Native American law students, a Pilipino American student leader and a Children's Hospital volunteer coordinator - have received the James W. Lyons Award for Service for their exceptional contributions to the university.

The students were honored at a ceremony and dinner on June 2. The awards, named for Stanford's longtime dean of student affairs, were presented by the current dean of students, Michael Jackson.

Law students Kenneth Bobroff, Carrie Garrow, Colin Hampson, Tracy Labin, Wilson Pipestem and Les Ramirez were cited for developing an academic course on Native American Common Law and Legal Institutions, "providing a cross-cultural sense of the rationale behind different approaches to the concept of justice." Setting up the course required skills in everything from academic research and logistical planning to fund raising

Jason Gottlieb and Jason Paulson, seniors majoring in economics and sociology and economics and psychology respectively, were honored "for their years of service in positions ranging from grunt-work to committee work to leadership roles - all in the area of Stanford fund raising." Among the activities they helped to organize were the Frosh Thankathon, the Sophomore Phone Fest, the Student Telethon, the Junior Phone Quest, and the Senior Pledge, each involving hundreds of volunteer student fund-raisers.

Reuben Granich, a medical student, was singled out "for his unusual career as a medical student activist in the area of infectious diseases, especially AIDS." Among his contributions were lectures, seminars, and East Palo Alto outreach programs. He also helped to develop campus policies and programs about HIV and designed emergency cards for medical students defining appropriate responses to HIV exposure.

Charles Hokanson, a senior majoring in history and American Studies, was recognized for his long leadership of the Alpha Phi Omega national coed service fraternity, both on campus and nationally, "resulting in enormous membership growth, energy, and activity." He also worked in many capacities at the Haas Center for Public Service, on the board of directors for Stanford-in-Government, and as a peer adviser, student senator and university committee member.

Michelle Landrey, a senior majoring in communication and economics, was cited for numerous campus contributions, including her current leadership of the Stanford Student Alumni Network, "bringing increased opportunities for student involvement and outreach to alumni." She also helped to organize Stanford programs for prospective freshmen and served as a resident assistant at Larkin House.

Paul Namphy, a senior majoring in industrial engineering, was honored for his regular column in the Stanford Daily student newspaper, "with its informed global perspective on issues of social justice." He also was recognized for his "wide-ranging contributions within and on behalf of the community of international students," including the organization of a course on the current crisis in Haiti.

Julius Paras, a senior majoring in industrial engineering and Values, Technology, Science and Society, was honored for his leadership of the Pilipino-American Student Union and its associated scholarship fund, high school outreach and recruitment programs, and on-campus Tinikling dance performances. In particular, he was cited for his "special ability to nurture leadership in his younger peers . . . instilling in them his confidence, his pride, and his infectious enthusiasm and joy."

Laura Schwab, a junior majoring in biological sciences, was honored "for bringing fun and comfort to the lives of sick children and their siblings at the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital." Schwab helped to create, establish and volunteer in two programs: Project Smiles, which entertains sick children and their siblings while they are waiting to receive medical exams and treatments; and Wacky Wednesday, which involves young cancer patients in kite-making, poetry-writing and other activities around the hospital.

Jason Snyder, a senior majoring in public policy and political science, was recognized for a variety of public service efforts, ranging from tutoring in East Palo Alto to work on the search committee for the new dean of Humanities and Sciences. He also served as a senator for the Associated Students of Stanford University and co-chaired the 1993 You Can Make A Difference conference, "bringing energy, creativity, and unusual effectiveness to that important campus event."

Joi Spencer, a junior majoring in Afro-American Studies, was recognized for her work with the student government's Financial Aid Advocacy Office, "informing and counseling students about cutbacks and other aid issues and problems." She also organized a weekend campus visit for students from Los Angeles inner-city high schools and, in her freshman year, created an African-American reading and writing skills curriculum for a Los Angeles eighth-grade remedial class.

Tamara Watts, a senior majoring in history, was honored for coordinating the office that provides information for incoming freshmen, "responding both to the administrative requirements of many offices and departments and to the concerns of individual students, and their families." The citation also noted her many contributions to Stanford Hillel and the Jewish Student Association, and her service as an advising associate, resident assistant, writing tutor and coordinator of ProFro Week for prospective freshmen.

The James W. Lyons Award for Service was established to recognize and applaud service contributions made by students from a variety of schools, departments, teams, clubs, residences and community projects. Selections are made on the basis of nominations by faculty, staff and students. All enrolled students are eligible.

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