Despite spring break service trips being cancelled and the world coming to a near complete halt due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, DMU students did not waiver in their commitment to the community. This year 103 students, 70 of whom are in the osteopathic medical program, were awarded the Des Moines University Student Service Award, which recognizes students from the University’s eight graduate medical/health sciences programs who demonstrate efforts to improve lives in our global community through volunteerism.
Together, the students provided 5,150 hours of volunteer service.
By enrolling in this recognition program, students commit to representing DMU with integrity and upholding its institutional values (accountability, collaboration, honesty, inclusiveness and wellness) while volunteering, reporting and reflecting on their experiences.
Once the students completed 50 hours of service, they produce a final reflection on their most meaningful volunteer experiences, their activities and observations, resulting changes in their understanding of the community or themselves, possible ways they can continue their involvement with the group or social issue, any frustrations or challenges, and ways to make their experiences better or more meaningful.
Students also were asked to draw from their volunteer experiences to write a letter to their future patients to explain how their service outside the classroom shaped them into the care provider they hope to be.
DMU President Angela Walker Franklin, Ph.D., shared these words with the students who received the award:
“Congratulations on being recognized for your exemplary leadership and service to the Des Moines community and surrounding areas. Developing a strong sense of ‘community’ has always been important to us and is especially important at present. Des Moines University is proud of your efforts and applauds you for your dedication, compassion and commitment to excellence during these most challenging times. Although we are unable to gather physically to celebrate your achievements, please know that we remain ever supportive as you continue your journey to becoming highly successful leaders and health care professionals.”
Listed below, along with their DMU program, are the students who received the award:
- Stefanie Abbott, D.O.
- Christie Adam, M.S.B.S.
- Jordan Airola, D.O.
- Morgan Alwell, D.O.
- Anna Avidan, D.O.
- Emory Barnes, D.P.M.
- Allie Barnett, D.O.
- Sedale Boire, D.O.
- Marijo Botten, D.O.
- Marissa Breider, P.A.
- Kalyn Brenner, D.O.
- William Bui Tran, D.P.M.
- Rachel Christenson, D.O.
- Molly Cunard, D.O.
- Viet Dieu, D.P.M.
- Troy Dolmetsch, D.O.
- Julie Doyle, D.P.T.
- Lauren Eddy, D.O.
- Erin Eggum, D.O., M.H.A.
- Collin Erickson, D.O.
- Nicholas Esposito, D.P.M.
- Bryce Fiebiger, D.O.
- Calvin Fung, D.O.
- Jacob Garner, D.O.
- Nathan Garner, D.O.
- Amelia Gilliland, D.O.
- Kathryn Gouthro, D.O.
- Austin Gutting, D.P.M.
- Jackie Ha, D.O.
- Taylor Hale, D.P.M.
- Steven Halvorson, D.O.
- Lauren Harter, D.O.
- Jan Hendrickson, P.A.
- Michaela Heys, D.P.M.
- David Hirsch, D.O.
- Suna Horie, D.O.
- Samantha Hurrle, D.O.
- Lien Huynh, D.O.
- Austin Jasniewski, D.O., M.P.H.
- Laura Judd, D.P.T.
- Sara Judickas, D.P.M.
- Kendall Kelly, D.O., M.P.H.
- Leandre Kennedy, D.P.M., M.S.A.
- Melanie Kim, D.O., M.P.H.
- Pavlo Kolyesnykov, D.P.M.
- Sonia Kumar, D.O.
- Cassandra Lai, D.O.
- Rebecca Lair, D.O., M.P.H.
- Parker Lemon, D.O.
- Clay Lippert, D.O.
- Daniel Lowe, D.P.M.
- Matthew Mahoney, D.O.
- Olivia Matz, D.O., M.S.A.
- Stephen Meyer, D.P.M.
- Kevin Milone, D.O.
- Taylor Morris, P.A.
- Zackery Nemmers, D.O.
- Devon Niewohner, D.P.M.
- Jody Noreen, P.A.
- Stephen Obonyo, M.P.H.
- Morgan Ostrander, D.O.
- Morgan Perrett, D.O.
- Andrew Philipose, D.O.
- Laurel Pietrzak, D.O.
- Adam Poole, D.O.
- Coray Preece, D.O.
- Spencer Randazzo, D.O.
- Andrew Root, D.O.
- Kaylee Rowe, D.O.
- Justin Sachs, D.O.
- Kristina Salazar, D.P.T.
- Jessica Salpor, D.O.
- Jasmeet Sandhu, D.O.
- Kalie Savage, D.O.
- Theresa Schneider, D.O.
- Hayley Schuchard, D.O.
- Rida Shaikh, D.O.
- Sarah Siegel, D.P.T.
- Carlin Situmeang, D.O.
- Andrew Smith, D.O.
- Daniel Smith, D.O.
- Victoria St. Martin, D.O.
- Spencer Stanford, D.O.
- Jacob Staudt, D.O.
- Hannah Stone, D.O.
- Jasmine Strozier, D.P.M.
- Trevor Thiss, D.O.
- Samuel Thomas, D.O.
- Tayler Thomas, D.P.M.
- Jiti Manoja Uppugunduri, D.O.
- Tate Vernon, D.O.
- Victoria Whitcomb, D.O.
- Meta Williams, D.O.
- Brittany Wilson, D.O., M.S.B.S.
- Hannah Yackley, D.O.
- Emily Zink, D.P.M.
- Anthony Zotto, D.O.
