"Champlain College student Jeremy Ellis of Old Mystic, Conn., was nominated as one of 10 finalists for The Vermont Teddy Bear Company's 7th Annual Vermont Student Citizen Award.

Ellis was recognized for his volunteer work with the DREAM Mentoring Program. He is one of the founding mentors in the Champlain College – Birchwood neighborhood DREAM program. Through this program, he and other Champlain students made a weekly, multi-year commitment to mentor young adults in Milton, Vermont.

Through DREAM, which stands for Directing through Recreation, Education, Adventure, and Mentoring, the students are working together with children to help them recognize their options, make informed decisions and achieve their dreams. In addition to weekly gatherings, Champlain DREAMers have taken their mentees skiing and snowboarding, on trips to Boston and New York, and on winter and summer camp getaways.

“DREAM has become a part of my life,” said Ellis. “It feeds my energy and inspiration.”

In addition to working with DREAM, Ellis has helped build a culture of service at Champlain College. He founded a student program called Food Fight, which brings students together with Sodexho food service staff to prepare soup for 100+ homeless neighbors each week. Additionally, he was among students who organized Champlain's first Alternative Spring Break trip to the 9th Ward of New Orleans, where they helped with cleaning and rebuilding.

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.

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 $1,000 to the institution the student attends. Students also receive a complimentary Vermont Teddy Bear Graduation Bear.

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.

Ellis is a graduate of Fishers Island School and he is a Multimedia and Graphic Design major at Champlain College. He is the son of Carl and Jessica Ellis."

-12/7/07 Champlain College Website