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 California
State University, Fresno student Ashley Gomes of Gustine was named a
finalist in the American Eagle Outfitters (AE) Spirit of Service Award
and will be commended for demonstrating commitment to her community
through Jumpstart, a national early education organization. Ashley Gomes
is one of ten finalists from around the U.S. – and the only one from
California – to receive this prestigious award, which was developed as
part of AE’s national partnership with Jumpstart, in order to recognize
the outstanding leadership demonstrated by college students serving as
Jumpstart Corps members.
Profiles of the ten finalists will appear on AE’s website
www.ae.com/web/spiritofservice/default.html
through June 7 for public online voting. These votes will be combined
with the Selection Committee scores to determine the five winners of the
AE Spirit of Service Award. Gomes will attend an awards ceremony in Los
Angeles in June 2007 hosted by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson, where
five winners will be announced. Winners will receive a $5,000
scholarship from AE; the five additional finalists will receive $1,000
scholarships.
“Our university is dedicated to meeting the needs of our community and
Ashley is an excellent example of the thousands of students who serve
our region each year. I encourage everyone in Fresno vote on-line and
support our local candidate for the Spirit of Service Award,” said Chris
Fiorentino, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement and
Service-Learning at Fresno State.
Gomes has been a Corps member since her sophomore year at Fresno State.
During her time with Jumpstart, she has not only worked extensively with
preschoolers in Fresno developing crucial early learning skills, but has
also provided leadership and guidance to fellow Corps members in their
one-to-one efforts with children. Additionally, she has organized
several service days and fundraisers, generating both awareness and
resources for Jumpstart in Fresno. She plans to be a teacher in Fresno
County. She was one of 80 Fresno State Jumpstart Corps members and one
of the more than 3,000 national Corps members that provide similar
services to children in 19 states across the country.
In Gomes’ words: “My service in Jumpstart has had an extraordinary
impact on me as an educator and citizen serving those who are
underprivileged. I have grown very passionate about the need to provide
resources and services to families and children who are at a
disadvantage. As a member of Jumpstart, I have had the amazing
opportunity to serve disadvantaged young children and their families in
my community. “Spirit of service” is the commitment to serve those in
need and make a lasting difference in their lives. Through this “spirit
of service,” relationships evolve and connections are made that work to
create a society with fewer divisions and more unification among all
classes.”
ABOUT JUMPSTART
Jumpstart, a national
nonprofit organization, is currently working with 10,000 preschool
children throughout the United States by pairing them with caring adults
in one-to-one tutoring relationships. In Fresno, Jumpstart trains and
supports 75 Fresno State students and 30 Fresno City College students.
Together, these college students will serve over 340 at-risk preschool
children in 17 preschool classrooms to improve their literacy, language
and social skills.
Jumpstart currently engages 2,500 adults as mentors to nearly 10,000
children, operates in 60 communities, in 22 states and serves 225 Head
Start and other early learning centers across the country. For more
information, visit the Jumpstart Web site at
www.jstart.org. |
