April 9, 2003
Contact: Bud Grimes, University Relations
THEC Community Service Awards Claimed
Martin, Tennessee - The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is honoring a University of Tennessee at Martin staff member and student for outstanding community service work.
Mike Munkel, of Martin, the university's manager of dining services, and UT Martin student Grace Moss, of Athens, Ala., will receive Harold Love Community Service awards after being selected from a group of Tennessee college and university nominees.
Ten individuals, including five faculty and staff members and five students, will receive the awards during a banquet and program, 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 16, at the Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville.
Awards go to individuals who excel in volunteer work and community service activities. The recognition programs for faculty, staff and students at public and private two- and four-year post- secondary institutions were created in 1991 by the Tennessee General Assembly. In 1993, the General Assembly funded the program by presenting $1,000 cash awards to future recipients.
In 1996, THEC adopted a recommendation by its awards task force to rename the awards for the late Tennessee Representative Harold Love, who sponsored legislation to create the program.
Dr. Nick Dunagan, UT Martin chancellor, said the award recipients are examples of how individuals can make a difference by giving of their time and talents to help others.
"UT Martin students, faculty and staff have the reputation for being involved in community service," Dunagan said. "Mike and Grace represent the spirit of community service by receiving this special honor."
Munkel, the Sodexho Dining Services general manager who oversees UT Martin's food services area, led efforts during the past three years to fill Christmas stockings and Easter baskets with gifts for underprivileged children. Last year marked the most successful to date as more than 100 baskets were delivered to children at Easter, and more than 300 stockings were distributed to children during Christmas.
Also, for 10 years, Munkel has been in charge of providing food for Camp Celebration, a recreational camp for the mentally retarded. The camp is held at Shelby Forest State Park near Memphis and is staffed by volunteers. Helping others, he said, "is good for your soul, your heart and your general health."
"I know I am blessed with my circumstances in life," Munkel said. " Anything I can do to make another person's life easier just makes me feel a little more fulfilled."
Moss, a first-year pre-pharmacy major who attended South Fulton High School in South Fulton, Tenn., led a group of students to raise funds for the family of Alyssa Ray, a child diagnosed with autism. The initial fund-raising success inspired other students to join in the effort, and a total of $6,800 was raised. These funds are being used by Alyssa's family to offset the high cost of treating the condition. Moss described helping others as something "God calls me to do as one of His children."
"I am a firm believer that when you help others, you receive more of a blessing out of it than you would ever dream," Moss said. " I don't really look at it as public service but just treating others like I would want to be treated in their situation."
Munkel and Moss bring the total to 18 faculty members, staff members and students from UT Martin recognized by the THEC community service awards programs.
