Annual award from Vermont Teddy Bear honors college students for their outstanding volunteer efforts.

Shelburne, VT—December 4, 2006—Champlain College student Nicole Walsh has been named a finalist for the 2006 Vermont Student Citizen Award for her volunteer efforts with the DREAM program.

The award, presented by The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., recognizes exceptional volunteer efforts by college students across the state. The award carries a reward of $1,000 to the student, a corporate gift of $1,000 to the non-profit organization where the student serves, and a $1,000 gift to the institution the student attends.

Walsh, who is among six finalists for the award, will graduate in the spring of 2007 with a degree in elementary education. The Bethany, Conn., native is an active member and founding mentor of Champlain College’s partnership with DREAM, a non-profit adventure mentoring organization. For the past two years, Walsh has mentored a 9-year-old boy from a neighborhood in Milton, Vt. Under Walsh’s enthusiastic leadership, 17 other Champlain students are mentors in the DREAM program.

In addition, she holds a leadership role in the school’s Residential Life Office, overseeing the wellbeing of the residents in her hall and coordinating the educational and service activities of several others under her charge. Walsh and 11 other students traveled last spring to Louisiana to help residents after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area.

“My time with DREAM has taught me that I will always help my community,” said Walsh. “If I see something I don’t like, I know now that I can do something about it. Everyone has an impact on this world, and all your wishes can come true if you just try.”

Created by The Vermont Teddy Bear Company in cooperation with Vermont Campus Compact, Vermont Higher Education Council, and Vermont Life Magazine, the Vermont Student Citizen Award recognizes the outstanding community service contributions many Vermont college students make in the community to non-profit groups and civic organizations.

The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is deeply rooted to the State of Vermont and takes pride in its mission to help people make meaningful connections with one another. By recognizing service learning as an important component of a young person’s education, the company hopes to reinforce caring and service to others, key elements of both a good corporate citizen and a Vermont citizen.

Any graduating Vermont College or university student can apply for the Vermont Student Citizen Award by submitting an application and essay to his or her campus compact coordinator. A finalist is selected on each campus and forwarded to The Vermont Teddy Bear Company along with a letter of recommendation by the institution president and non-profit representative. The winner is selected by a steering committee that includes Elisabeth Robert of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Nicole Fenton of HMC Advertising, John Lazenby of Vermont Life Magazine, Susan Englese of Vermont Higher Education Council, Amy Gibans-McGlashan of the Vermont Campus Compact, and Gerianne Smart of Smart Communications.


MEDIA CONTACT:
Nicole L’Huillier Fenton, 802-253-7141 ext. 221, nicolelh@hmcstowe.com