Warrington trio receive honor for exceptional community service
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Warrington students Kaitlyn Czencz, Emily Lunn and Abdul-Kader Okab were recipients of the University of Florida’s 2016 Presidential Service Awards on March 29 at the President’s House.
The Presidential Service Awards, awarded by UF’s Center for Leadership & Service, recognize students who have dedicated their time and efforts while at UF to promoting social justice, community awareness, and civic engagement on campus and in the community. The Presidential Service Awards are a chance to acknowledge those students who have made outstanding efforts towards community service and too often go unrecognized and unrewarded for their selfless labor.
Kaitlyn Czencz (BSBA ’17): Czencz, a junior marketing major, completed 216.5 hours of community service this past year. Through Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity, Czencz tutored children, assisted at the Alachua County Humane Society, and participated in Project Makeover, where UF students spend a weekend upgrading Marjorie K. Rawlings Elementary School in Gainesville through art and landscaping projects. Additionally, Czencz performed numerous communications tasks as a Marketing Development Intern at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Czencz is a two-time recipient of the Presidential Service Award. She performed 110.5 hours of community service last year.
“Whether it is picking up trash alongside the road, tutoring children, or even renovating elementary schools with Project Makeover, I’m always excited to make a difference,” Czencz said. “Even the smallest acts can make the biggest impacts on everyone around me.”
Emily Lunn (BS ’16, BSBA ’16): Lunn is a senior and double major in finance and biology, and performed 225 hours of community service this past year. Lunn prepared and delivered medicine packages on mission trips to Haiti. While in Haiti, she volunteered at a clinic, assessing patients and recording basic vital signs, and also delivered medicine and supplies to area orphanages.
“It was very humbling because medicine that we take for granted here isn’t even available to people there,” Lunn said. “It made me so thankful for what I have here, and I want to continue to make a difference.”
Lunn also assisted patients as a volunteer at Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian, Fla.
Abdul-Kader Okab (BSBA ’17): Okab, a junior finance major, completed 207 hours of community service this past year. Through Alpha Phi Omega, Okab tutored and spent time with underprivileged area children. He also fed the homeless at Islamic Center of Ocala.
Okab is also a two-time recipient of the Presidential Service Award after completing 101.5 hours of service last year.
“Being with these kids, and seeing them look forward to seeing me, is exciting,” Okab said. “More importantly, I think I play a positive and influential role in their lives.”
