Pace Wins 8 Jefferson Awards

Eight Jefferson Awards were given to Pace faculty, staff, and students this year for their community and public service.

Co-founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard, the Jefferson Awards began in 1972 as a Nobel Prize for public service. Today, their primary purpose is to serve as a "Call to Action for Volunteers" in local communities. They are a prestigious local and national recognition system honoring community and public service in America.

This year’s Pace honorees for the Jefferson Bronze medal are:
 
Atalya Kozak, a senior environmental studies major at Pace University. She has volunteered globally (in India, Peru, Israel, and Honduras) and locally on issues including, the environment and hunger and homelessness.
 
Sue Maxam, a University staff member dedicated to building community in and outside the University. She is an active fundraiser, volunteer, and advocate for children and the environment.
 
Kayla Castronova, the chair of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Pace University in 2008 and a co-chair in 2009. Over the past year, Relay for Life has raised more than $70,000. She has worked with Habitat for Humanity, NY Cares, and Westchester Family Services. She is also the founder of the Colleges Against Cancer foundation.
 
Karla Jay, PhD, a Distinguished Professor of English at Pace University, Jay has been involved with community service all her life, volunteering, fundraising, and community organizing around issues related to women’s and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights.
 
Christian Cano, who as a high school student at El Centro Hispano in White Plains, spent more than 250 hours as a community volunteer. Since joining Pace he has been an exemplary and committed volunteer in projects sponsored by Pace University’s Center for Community Outreach.
 
Jean Coppola, PhD, has developed numerous innovative service learning courses that have brought technology to our communities. In particular, she has dedicated her energy to addressing a community need of geriatric patients — bridging their digital divide and improving overall quality of life via gerotechnology.
 
Ann DeFalco has been a strong voice in the lower Manhattan community, both as the founder of the first youth not-for-profit east of City Hall in Downtown Manhattan, and as an active member of a variety of youth and education related planning boards in lower Manhattan including Community Board #1.
 
Beta Alpha Psi at Pace University, represented by Charles Worden, has been actively involved in community service through the accounting and financial services their students have provided to the Association for the Help of Retarded Citizens (AHRC) and Chinese Progressive Agency (CPA).
They also continue to volunteer long hours through their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program where low-income taxpayers receive free service on their tax returns.