Alice Mao
2011 Student Recipient
This year only had two nominations – both embodying the 5 qualities used to describe Mr. Sullivan.
Recognition of Selflessness, Generosity of Service, Nobility of Character, Person of Integrity, Depth of Spirituality
We congratulate both Alice and Lauren for their efforts to making this campus, this community and this world better.
This year’s recipient was not considered to be one of the “usual suspects” when it comes to student leaders at Duke. Her life of service in college began when she enrolled in the Durham Giving Project house course. This course was created with a goal to help students establish a broader understanding of Durham and its struggles and triumphs and create a giving circle to fund grants from local non‐profit organizations. What she learned there lead her to a Pathways internship at Duke Hospital and greater involvement on campus. During her time at Duke, she has shown real growth as a person and leader through her involvement with Common Ground and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She has also shared what she’s learned about service and community with her peers along the way. How many people would choose to celebrate their 21st birthday by inviting friends to serve food at the Durham Rescue Mission? As a member and a leader of the Global Medical Brigade, an organization that recruits physicians, medicines and fundraises for annual one week medical mission trip to Honduras, she decided to expand their program to include community health outreach for Latino youth in Durham Public Schools and at El Centro Hispano. Her passion for meaningful service will not stop here as she prepares to serve the next year with AmeriCorps or City Year before pursuing a medical career focusing on global health issues. While we honor her tonight, she notes that the many individuals that she has met through service have been her inspiration. I end with the words of her nominator,
The strong faith she has in God guides her passion for service and drives her to further develop her gifts in all aspects of her life.
It is truly an honor to present the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award to ‐‐‐ Alice Mao