The Cornell Student United Way (SUW) received the inaugural United Way Worldwide (UWW) Student United Way Campus Organization of the Year award May 6 for service and innovative fundraising accomplishments that serve as a model nationwide for campus, community and United Way partnerships.

The award was presented to Alicia Hetrick '12 by UWW CEO Brian Gallagher during the UWW Staff Leaders Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Students at more than 50 colleges and universities, technical and trade schools and high schools have organized SUWs to improve their local communities in the areas of education, income and health.

UWW developed the new awards program to draw attention to these efforts and to highlight outstanding individual leadership; exceptional SUW organizations; savvy social media skills; and successful program efforts focused on United Way's Live United call to action. Ten awards were presented at the conference.

The Cornell SUW was founded by Jonathan Feldman '08, who developed the Stephen E. Garner Summers of Service Internship Program for several local high school students each year who receive a $1,500 stipend to provide community service at a United Way member organization. An annual senior prom event, the Duff Ball, and a homecoming week concert by Cornell student groups, A Cappella United, also were created to help fund the internships. The first stipend was funded by Feldman.

Over the next two years, Greg Schvey '09 and Jason Shapiro '10 expanded the Cornell SUW with such efforts as a food and personal care items drive, local relay effort and athletic fundraising activities to bring students and the local community together. In addition, the Cornell Interfraternity Council named the United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) its philanthropy of choice in 2010.

This year, Cornell SUW efforts led by Nathaniel Houghton '11 and Jessica Zhao '12 included:

• Introducing a Mortar Board celebration, with remarks by Cornell President David Skorton;
• Cornell's Greek houses' Tri-Council presenting a check to the UWTC during this year's day of service projects across Tompkins County; and
• A new "Stuff the Bus" campaign. In collaboration with Ithaca College's United Way Philanthropy Corps and a new student United Way effort at Tompkins Cortland Community College, students collected school supplies and food for local schools and food pantries by traveling to each campus in a bus provided by Gadabout. This pilot United Way Worldwide program was conducted in only 11 communities nationwide; Tompkins County was the only community with three campuses participating.

"Receiving the top national award is a significant achievement that reflects the leadership, vision and impact Cornell Student United Way members have demonstrated over the past four years," said James Brown, president of UWTC. "Our community is very fortunate to have caring and committed students at Cornell and Ithaca College, who have developed programs to aid the entire community."