Winners of Alliance Awards

WINNERS OF ALLIANCE AWARDS

Published on Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The University Park Alliance honored nine individuals and groups for their efforts in the park's neighborhood near hospitals, university and downtown.
NEXUS AWARD WINNERS:

• Student Award: Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity for its Grace Park Flower Gardens.

Since 2007, the fraternity has been instrumental in collaborative efforts to upgrade and enhance Grace Park, University Park's oldest and most formal park.

• Student Award: Associated Student Government for Zipnic.

The members of UA's Associated Student Government (ASG) were instrumental in planning, promoting and implementing two neighborhood picnics, or ''Zipnics,'' in 2009. More than 500 people attended the free events on Buchtel Field.

• Community Award: Joan Dorow for Mason PB&J Program.

In 2009, Dorow, who runs the Williard Church Food Pantry with her husband, stepped forward to respond after UA students saw a need for food for Mason Elementary students on the weekend. Dorow created the program and organizes resources and volunteers to distribute ''kid-friendly'' bags of food to children each Friday.

• Community Award: Leandra Drumm for ''Light-UP'' Lantern Festival in University Park.

Conceived and organized by University Park artist Leandra Drumm, the first festival took place in Spicertown Oct. 24 and was attended by more than 500, including children and families. The night event featured area artists, musicians and businesses, and drew upon the talents of neighborhood residents and the UA community. Drumm and the University Park Business Association are working on making this a yearly event.

• Community Award: LINKS Community & Family Services for community outreach.

LINKS Community & Family Services was established as a new University Park neighborhood nonprofit organization in December 2008. In 2009, under the Rev. Yolanda Parker, the organization grew into a multiservice outreach program.

• Faculty Award: Deborah Marino for service-learning.

As a UA associate professor in nutrition and dietetics for 17 years, Marino has used University Park-centered service learning in her courses. She and her students have completed projects at University Park's Mason and Leggett elementary schools, including the award-winning Game On — The Ultimate Wellness Challenge and a project involving graduate students training fifth-grade leaders to conduct a peer-led nutrition education program for second-graders. Her classes now are working on community gardening and foods projects in the neighborhood.
INVESTOR AWARD WINNERS:

• The University of Akron for InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.

Dedicated in 2009, UA's InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field opened Sept. 12 for a sold-out college football game between the Akron Zips and the Morgan State (Md.) Bears. The $61.6 million facility holds 27,000 in traditional seating with an additional 3,000 on a grassy knoll. There are an anticipated 100-plus stadium events each year attracting nearly 200,000 visitors.

• GAR Foundation for Andrew Jackson House.

The more than $3 million restoration and conversion of the historic Andrew Jackson House, at East Mill Street and Union Street was completed in 2009. The house's grand meeting hall on the second floor was restored and is being made available for community use. A Second Empire-style Victorian mansion, the 15,585-square-foot structure had been vacant for 15 years before its restoration by the Chesler Group to house the offices of the GAR Foundation and the local offices of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
CHAMPION AWARD WINNERS:

• Greater Akron Chamber

The neighborhood has been highlighted in the chamber's strategic plan for economic development and has been featured in its relocation guide. The chamber was the supporting sponsor of UPA's 2010 Urban Innovators Speaker Series.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:

• North High School students Thi Tran and Derrick J. Rechel: Each received a $4,000 scholarship that is eligible for renewal for four years of college.
Compiled by Betty Lin-Fisher