Students, faculty, and staff honored during Celebration of Service Ceremony

Several members of the Alfred State family were honored for their service to others Thursday at the Alfred Village Hall during the fifth annual Celebration of Service Ceremony.

Each year, two honorees, one student and one faculty or staff member, receives a Spirit of Service Award, which recognizes and celebrates those in the Greater Alfred community who demonstrate a strong commitment to serving others. The award is intended to honor people who are actively living out the principles Martin Luther King Jr. stood for, including equality, social justice, community, and service.

Ashley Ebel, a business administration major from Freeville, was named this year’s Alfred State College Student Spirit of Service Award winner. Ebel works as a student advocate for the Center for Civic Engagement, works at the rock climbing wall, is a leader in the Outdoor Recreation Club, and is president of Little Angels of Honduras, a new organization on campus devoted to fundraising and awareness regarding the lack of adequate medical supplies and care for Honduran infants and children.

In 2013, Ebel was named “Mentee of the Year” for the Emerging Pioneers Leadership Program, in part due to her hard work with Hope for Honduras. She has also worked with a small group through this leadership program to raise awareness about youth suicide by hosting a poetry slam. This event highlighted many of the reasons for young adult suicide and discussed resources available to depressed and suicidal youth.

This year’s winner of the Alfred State Faculty/Staff Spirit of Service Award is Michael Murray, assistant director of dining at Auxiliary Campus Enterprises and Services, Inc. (ACES). ACES is a not-for-profit corporation that supports the mission of Alfred State by providing dining services, campus bookstores, cable TV, vending, and transportation services to student customers.

Murray has been a member of the Alfred State Family for decades as a tireless employee of ACES, is an active member of the Alumni Board, is co-adviser to the Greek Advisory Board, and is an adviser to one of Alfred State’s Greek houses, Gamma Theta Gamma. Every year under Murray's direction, the brothers of Gamma Theta Gamma host a Halloween Haunted House for the community, with proceeds typically going to Relay for Life.

In 2014, half of the proceeds from this event went to benefit the Golisano Children's Hospital, and under Murray’s direction, the fraternity is working to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. Murray is also an active fundraiser for the ALS Foundation, participating in the annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser and continuing to raise money and awareness for the cause throughout the year.

Also recognized were the following nominees, who each received a certificate for their efforts:

• Andrew Scott, an architectural technology major from Arverne, who has devoted significant time outside of his architectural studies to volunteer at the Southern Tier Architectural Resource (STAR) Center.

• Chad Martin, a construction management engineering technology major from Breesport, who,as president of the Pioneer Woodsmen’s Club, takes leadership in managing a large and active club involved in lumberjacking competitions throughout the region.

• Dr. Robert Curry, dean ofthe School of Arts and Sciences, who is a language partner for international students, has served on many Alfred State committees, serves on various New York State curricular committees, and always makes time for staff and students.

• Debra Mayes, computer specialist with technology services, whois highly engaged in numerous civic engagement projects and has traveled to Catskills, North Dakota, Long Island, and Detroit to assist with flood cleanup and other disaster relief efforts.

• Barbara Pierce,student activities secretary,who is an incredible advocate for the Alfred Community Garden and has mentored a group of students who are participants of the Emerging Pioneers Leadership Program at Alfred State.

Pictured here is this year’s Alfred State Faculty/Staff Spirit of Service Award winner Michael Murray, assistant director of dining at Auxiliary Campus Enterprises and Services, Inc. (ACES), center, along with members of Gamma Theta Gamma.

In photo above is Ashley Ebel, a business administration major from Freeville, proudly displays her Alfred State College Student Spirit of Service Award.