Hugh Jenkins Award

Criteria Used to Select Nominees

Commitment to promoting global understanding and providing for international exchange in the local community
Spirit of volunteerism and a long-term commitment to international education and exchange
Excellence in leadership for recruiting, training, and recognizing community volunteers
Active participation with internationals in the local community

Recipients

2008 Jean Griswold

Jean Griswold was presented with the 2008 award for her enthusiastic dedication to serving the needs of international students and for her sustained leadership of community programming at the local, regional and national levels.

Jean was Director of the Office of International Student Services at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins until her retirement in 1995. At CSU she developed many outreach programs, including a Foreign Speakers Bureau, foreign language camps using internationals as native speakers, cross-cultural workshops for U.S. and international students, and day-long orientations for new students away from campus.

Jean was COMSEC Rep on the Region II Team in the mid 70s. She served many years on NAFSA's COMSEC (Community Programming) Team, where she became Chair and served on NAFSA's Board of Directors. She also became a NAFSA Community Development Consultant and a member of NAFSA's COOP Committee. In 2001, Jean wrote a comprehensive history of COMSEC, published for the section's 40th Anniversary. Over the years Jean presented many sessions on community issues, student programming, and intercultural training of staff and volunteers. She has been a mentor to many others in community programming, ready with supportive help, an encouraging word, ideas to take home and use.

Each year Jean brought international students by van to the annual conference, providing them with tools for leadership. To provide opportunities for students who couldn't go to NAFSA conferences, Jean initiated International Student Leadership Conferences in her region. Volunteers and international office staff members involved in community programs were also brought together in weekend-long Area Workshops.

For 30 years, the Griswolds have hosted a Sunday waffle breakfast for community friends, international students, and faculty. The waffle breakfasts continue in their home even when they are traveling. The Griswolds also have a loan closet in their garage to provide housekeeping items for international students.

Jean's love of internationals has continued in her retirement through volunteer work in CSU International Center programs. Each year a student at Colorado State University receives the William J. and Jean S. Griswold Scholarship, for his or her contribution to the school's international community.

NAFSA honored Jean with Life Membership in 1996, in appreciation for her service to the association and long-term commitment to international educational exchange. KC-ISSS is pleased to present this award for her dedicated service to the field of Campus and Community Programming.

2007 Nancy Kopka

Nancy Kopka has demonstrated leadership and volunteerism in many areas. She has served on the National COMSEC Team from 1986 through 1994, including COMSEC Chair and as the COMSEC Representative to the Board of Directors. As a Board Member, she served on several committees, including the Search Committee for a new NAFSA CEO, Membership, Ethics and Conference Planning. She has also been active in leadership roles in Community Volunteers in International Programs at Michigan State University.

In all her roles, Nancy has exhibited a gift for identifying potential leaders, finding them appropriate volunteer placements, nurturing their professional growth and helping them find success as leaders. She has been a coach, challenger, role model and dear friend to those she has mentored.

Her many years of experience have been used to help others through "You, Too, can Host an International Student" pamphlet, "Understanding Islam" national seminar and a workshop to promote better understanding between community organizations and international student offices.

In every area of service, from the National COMSEC Team to hosting the Every Tuesday program for international spouses, Nancy has exhibited a wonderful humbleness and a willingness to work behind the scenes to make things happen to help others enjoy success.

2006 Bob and Nancy Sturtevant

Bob and Nancy Sturtevant have demonstrated leadership and volunteerism for many areas. They have served as president of the Fort Collins International Center, NAFSA COMSEC leaders, NAFSA COMINFO representatives, creators and chairs of the Fort Collins International Center Outdoor Committee, host family program chair, treasurer, newsletter editor, and coordinator of the weekly Friday Afternoon Club. In each of these roles and through presenting workshops and sessions, they have worked to recruit, train, recognize, and provide vision for other community volunteers. Their lives are characterized by a selfless ethic of service to others. They are always willing to step up when a job needs to be done and willing to rearrange their schedules to help someone else.

Their strong record of volunteerism extends over two decades and is driven by a satisfaction derived from sustained contact with international students. Their personal involvement takes the form of skiing, camping, white water rafting, holiday and birthday parties, moving services, stopping by to check on students even after putting in a long day, and opening their house for storage and lodging. They have lived out their commitment to promoting global understanding as demonstrated by the outstanding number of students they have been personally involved with.

For the Sturtevants, service to students extends beyond the local community and reaches students in other countries. Their "Books for Development" program gathers used textbooks and professional journals from universities and the community. The items are screened, sorted, and boxed for shipping. Working with a current student, a needy university is identified and a 20-foot container containing about 40,000 books and periodicals is sent for about 10 cents per item. Shipments have gone to Pakistan, Chile, Venezuela, Belize, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.

2005 Jane Dunham

Jane Dunham epitomizes the purpose and aims of the Hugh M. Jenkins Award. She embodies leadership and volunteerism. She has been professionally involved in international office leadership at three major Texas universities, and the volunteer coordinator at a fourth, the University of Texas at Austin’s Family and Community Programs Office. In each institution Jane has demonstrated her strength as a leader who has recruited, trained, and recognized volunteers. Jane does the same within NAFSA, where she has held numerous national and regional leadership positions—COMSEC chair-elect, chair and past chair, Region III chair—to name a few. Jane’s profile is also one of unbounded generosity. She has mentored, consulted, and given her time and talent to literally thousands of people seeking to know the best practices of community programming—in many countries.

Her strong track record of volunteerism extends over three decades. Whether it’s the University of Texas at Austin or the Netherlands, U.S. private organizations, such as SIETAR, Youth for Understanding, and the Institute of International Education, or her leadership in Christmas International House for 17 years, Jane’s spirit of volunteerism and long-term commitment to international exchange organizations are well-documented. Jane has lived out her commitment to promoting global understanding by the outstanding number of exchange students in year-long programs who have lived in her home. Without exaggeration, Jane and her family have hosted over 900 international visitors!

To quote one of the nomination letters: “Jane is an exemplary volunteer within our professional organization and wherever her open heart and time and personal resources are needed. It matters not at all to Jane what formal group or casual cluster of friends are engaged in crossing cultures. Bringing people of diverse backgrounds together in the spirit of peace and respect is a life value of Jane’s. She couldn’t accept another breath without thinking of making those around her more comfortable as they seek to find a home in the world.”

2004 Jack and D’Ann Burke

As in previous years, the 2004 nominations for the Hugh M. Jenkins Award were outstanding. However, this year there were two parties that received the highest of accolades. Their accomplishments epitomized the purpose and aims of the award, and thus the committee decided to grant two awards: one to a couple and the other to an individual.

One of the 2004 Hugh M. Jenkins Awards goes to Dr. Jack and Ms. D’Ann Burke.

Jack and D’Ann have been exemplary role models; Jack as the former director of the Office of International Student & Scholar Services, and D’Ann as the volunteer director of the Host Family Program, both at the University of Houston. Through their tireless efforts of more than 20 years, they established one of the premier international friendship programs in the United States. Their model for recruiting, training, and recognizing volunteers has been duplicated at numerous institutions, including Purdue University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Akron.

Jack and D’Ann have been involved with NAFSA for many years (Jack since 1963 and D’Ann since 1971). They are lifetime members of the association and are also founding members of the New Century Circle. D’Ann epitomizes a spirit of volunteerism as she organized, directed, and implemented the host family program at the University of Houston for two decades. She was never financially compensated for her efforts, nor did she ever expect or desire to be. She performed her service out of love for the students and their families.

Jack and D’Ann have hosted students from abroad in their home year after year for nearly 40 years. The hospitality that they have offered has always been unselfish, loving, and a natural expression of their genuine concern for international students.

To quote one of their nomination letters: “What distinguishes Jack and D’Ann above their peers, with similar interests, is their commitment over the years to infect others with this love and devotion for internationals. Indeed, their life’s purpose has been very much in the arena of promoting global understanding at the one-to-one personal level between internationals and Americans.”

2004 Nell Magee

The other 2004 Hugh Jenkins Award is granted to Nell Magee. Nell has been a gentle yet firm voice supporting international education for nearly as long as NAFSA itself. In her role at the Baptist Student Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee, she spent more than 30 years attending to the needs of international students while helping them learn about the United States. Campus ministers, student organizations, and community groups have all benefited from her kind words of wisdom, given with the gentle humor of a self-described Mississippi belle and the knowledge and insight that comes from an open and loving heart. Nell has been a leader, encouraging many others to provide the volunteer services so important to all international students and scholars.

Nell’s list of NAFSA involvement reflects her untiring energy, varied skills, and willingness to take on difficult challenges. She rose through the ranks of COMSEC to become National Chair in 1986-87 and followed this with a term on the NAFSA Board of Directors, where she helped usher through two critical changes by the association: the name change and the Code of Ethics.

Helping decipher ethical issues has been a natural responsibility for Nell, as she has spent many years educating both NAFSAns and members of the religious community on how Christian organizations can and should minister to international students while respecting the diverse beliefs and faiths of all involved. This balance is one that constantly needs definition and clarification, and Nell, better than perhaps any other NAFSA member, has provided the wisdom needed in this area.

2003 Fahed Abu-Akel

The Hugh M. Jenkins Award for Excellence in Community Programming recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting global understanding and international exchange in the local community. It honors individuals who exemplify a spirit of volunteerism and a long-term dedication to international exchange. It identifies individuals whose leadership encompasses outstanding skills in recruiting, training, and recognizing community volunteers. And it rewards personal involvement with internationals in the local community.

The 2003 recipient of the Hugh M. Jenkins award has led a life that personifies all of these ideals. After coming to the United States as an international student, Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel has spent the past 25 years creating and sustaining multiple programs that build bridges of friendship between U.S. citizens and international students and scholars in 22 colleges and universities in the greater Atlanta area. At the heart of all his programs is his belief that personal interaction among people from different cultures and backgrounds builds mutual respect and encourages constructive leadership in a global community.

Dr. Abu-Akel has been lauded by colleagues for his warmth, generosity, broad-mindedness, integrity, sense of humor, and deep commitment to cross-cultural and cross-national understanding. His programs create opportunities for Atlanta residents to become friends with international students through home hospitality, both year-round and during holidays. They also recognize the importance of international exchange by honoring international students at a high-level city-wide welcome reception. And they give students an appreciation of their new environment through tours of the city's historic landmarks.

The organization Dr. Abu-Akel founded, the Atlanta Ministry with International Students (AMIS), has succeeded in bringing together college professionals and local church communities to offer welcome, friendship, and hospitality to internationals, whatever their faith, with full respect. It has reached over 5,500 international students from more than 140 nations in the greater Atlanta area.

Dr. Abu-Akel has been active in NAFSA: Association of International Educators at the local, state, and regional level. A frequent presenter at conferences, he has often served on the state conference planning committee and was chair of Region VII.

The Community Programming Section is pleased to recognize Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel for his outstanding heartfelt and visionary leadership.

2002 Mary Rogerson

The Hugh M. Jenkins Award for Excellence in Community Programming was established in 2001 by the Community Programming Section of NAFSA. The award was presented initially to Hugh M. Jenkins for his leadership, especially in the development of the Community Section.

The award was presented in 2002 to a person who worked closely with Mr. Jenkins as a volunteer for many years: Mrs. Mary Rogerson of Columbia, South Carolina.

Active as a volunteer in international educational exchange for at least 40 years, and with a strong commitment to helping international students, Mary and her husband, L.A. Rogerson, were instrumental in founding the Columbia Council for Internationals in 1965. The community support they enlisted included both the president of the University of South Carolina and the governor of the state. This all-volunteer organization continues to serve the international community in many ways, and Mary is still involved as a board member.

Mrs. Rogerson and her well-trained volunteers have developed benchmark programs for international students and scholars locally, many of which have become models of service. The training and protocol that she largely developed have resulted in a high level of consistency and continuity. She created a “Handbook” for board members and volunteers, which she continues to update, and which is used widely.

Her influence has extended far beyond the local community. She has been active in Region VII in many ways, and was on the national COMSEC team, serving as national COMSEC chair and on the NAFSA board in 1975-76. She became a national consultant for NAFSA, conducting close to 100 workshops and seminars, in addition to many consultations. Her leadership guided many colleges, universities, and communities in establishing programs to serve the international community. She became affectionately known as “Queen of the Road.”

When there were not materials for training volunteers, she developed some resources, including revisions of the handbook she had done locally. She and her husband worked diligently alongside Ron Heinrich and others to establish, in 1972, the COMSEC Newsletter, which provided resources and communication for community leaders. NAFSA previously awarded her Life Membership.

Mary Rogerson has been a guiding force in shaping international educational exchange from the community perspective. The Hugh M. Jenkins Award is a fitting tribute to her long years of service.

2001 Hugh M. Jenkins

Hugh M. Jenkins should be considered "Mr. NAFSA" for his commitment to international education and his outstanding leadership in many roles.

Mr. Jenkins became involved with international ("foreign") students in New York City, and was active in a group called "Committee on Friendly Relations among Foreign Students." He was the NAFSA president in 1965-66, the last NAFSA president to serve without an executive director, though his office in New York was considered a "working central office."

In 1966, he was selected as the first executive director of NAFSA, and led the organization to relocate its headquarters in Washington, DC, to be in closer contact with other offices related to higher education. His was the longest tenure in that position, serving from 1966 to 1979, during which time the title was changed to "Executive Vice President."

Mr. Jenkins' early leadership and persistence led to a proposal to the NAFSA Board of Directors in 1960 to create a Community Section, which was established at the annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, on April 11, 1961. At that time, he was elected the first COMSEC chair. He was influential in securing strong support for the new section from leaders both in and beyond NAFSA.

Throughout the intervening years, Mr. Jenkins has continued his involvement in NAFSA, especially his support of the Community Programming Section. After his retirement in 1979, he continued to develop many projects, served as Recorder for AID projects, wrote frequently for the organization, and spent long (and "dusty") months organizing the NAFSA archives. At the 40th anniversary of NAFSA, Mr. Jenkins was especially recognized as one of the 40 NAFSAns making unique contributions to the association.

It is with great respect, honor, and appreciation that the Community Programming Section is pleased to name its newly developed annual award the "Hugh M. Jenkins Award for Excellence in Community Programming," and to name Mr. Jenkins as the first recipient of the award.

Sadly, Mr. Jenkins passed away on June 29, 2005.