May 10 , 2007

Contact: Bob Adams
(425) 564-3081
badams@bcc.ctc.edu

BCC group wins President’s Volunteer Award
for New Orleans relief work

BELLEVUE, WASH. – Six Bellevue Community College students and their staff advisor have won the President’s Volunteer Award for their hurricane relief work in New Orleans last summer.

The service project, which took place over 10 days last July and August, was sponsored by the college’s Black Student Union.

BCC students Mike Akrish, FiFi Gebre-Kiros and Aida Gebreselassie, all of Bellevue; Ilays Aden, of Renton; and Alyssa Aalmo, of Seattle; along with 2006 BCC graduate Lynn Frair, of Everett, and BCC staff advisor Shanika Russell, of Seattle, worked in New Orleans under the auspices of Hope worldwide.

Assigned to St. Bernard’s Parish, one of the areas hardest-hit by Hurricane Katrina, the group gutted two houses that had been severely damaged by rot and mold, taking both homes down to their framework.

The President's Volunteer Service Award is bestowed by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, which was created by President George W. Bush in 2003 specifically to find ways to recognize the valuable contributions of volunteers in the U.S.

The BCC group’s award, along with letters of recognition from President Bush, will be presented formally May 19 at Hope worldwide ceremonies in Virginia.

Hope worldwide is an international charity that organizes sustainable, community-based services to the needy.

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