Servant Leader Awards
Sep 25, 2009
Cornerstone students Stephen Winkelman and Ashley DeWitt received the Student Leader Award during the Sept. 9 convocation service on campus.
The award honors students “entering their senior year who have demonstrated servant leadership on campus and/or in the Grand Rapids community,” said Larry Rice, director of community life.
Both Winkelman and DeWitt will receive a $1,000 scholarship and $250 to donate to the charity of their choice.
The award was founded when William Reichardt, its creator, wanted to recognize students who engage in “behind-the-scenes” volunteer work, Rice said. Students are nominated by faculty, staff and fellow students.
“Too often people who participate and volunteer go unrecognized for their contributions to the school and the community,” he said. “This is at least one means of providing recognition and appreciation to people who devote many hours of their life to what is largely unsung and unglamorous work and service.”
Winkelman, a media studies major with an emphasis in video and an intercultural studies minor, was recognized for his service as a Sherpa in Leadership Journey, his mission work on trips to Costa Rica and Dubai and helping lead worship on campus.
He chose Basecamp Ministries, an inner city ministry serving the children of the Grand Rapids Hispanic community, to be the recipient of his donation.
“I was actually surprised to be given the award as I heard the other names that were also nominated,” Winkelman said.
He was glad that Ashley DeWitt also received the award, “because of her work in the community. I am glad that I can give a gift to Basecamp and am reminded of the responsibility of following Jesus’ footsteps of servant hood.”
DeWitt served as a Sherpa and Sirdar in Leadership Journey; volunteered with Habitat for Humanity; served as a worship leader in her church; helped with activities at Raybrook Manor, a retirement community; served as a Vacation Bible School leader; volunteered with Kid’s Food Basket and was a child mentor at D.A. Blodgett.
A social work major and psychology minor, DeWitt has decided to give her donation to the United Leukodystrophy Foundation, which helps children and adults that have leukodystrophy, a genetic brain disorder.
DeWitt feels honored and blessed to receive the award, though she doesn’t feel that her service requires recognition, she said.
“Each of the nominees for this award, as well as so many other students in our campus community, were worthy recipients of this recognition, and I would encourage everyone to keep striving toward being a true servant,” Dewitt said.
Matt Haller, Emily Faletti, David Sample and Tiffany Larman were also nominated.
