The Alumnae of Northwestern University has begun its annual search for a female, senior candidate who displays collaboration, initiative, innovation, inspiration and leadership in the community to present the $2,500 Senior Woman’s Service Award.
With volunteerism a motivating factor behind The Alumnae of Northwestern University, the idea of honoring a senior woman who has made a noteworthy volunteer contribution as part of the University community was proposed by the Alumnae Board in 2001. Each year since then, undergraduate senior women have submitted their resumes to the Center for Student Involvement (CSI), to be reviewed by a committee of the Alumnae Board for consideration.
“Previous recipients have been involved across campus through student organizations, sororities, academic departments, and independent study,” CSI Student Community Service Coordinator Andrea Bell said.
Anna Radoff, the 2014 recipient of the award, made her mark on Northwestern in a number of ways. As an executive co-chair of Dance Marathon, she implemented two new programs during the record $1.3 million year. The first program assisted low-income students with fund registration fees and taught fundraising skills, while the second paired a child from the main charity beneficiary, Team Joseph, to a team of dancers to motivate participants and make the weekend more meaningful.
Radoff also held a philanthropy chairmanship in her sorority, and helped found the Northwestern University chapter of Oxfam, the international human rights and relief organization. Now working with Teach for America Chicago, Radoff said her job on the South Side teaching twenty preschool students is the hardest job she’s ever had, but the most rewarding.
“Each day we start with the same cheer, “We are leaders. We matter. We can do anything,” Radoff said. “I hope that if they only learn one thing this year, it is that they are important and they can make a difference in the world; a belief I learned through service at Northwestern.”
The application deadline is February 6. The Senior Award will be presented at the Alumnae Annual Meeting and Luncheon May 18, 2015.
Applications are due by email or in hard copy February 6, 2015 to Andrea Bell in the Center for Student Involvement (Andrea-Bell@northwestern.edu).