he UA Women's Club is offering five $1,000 Humanitarian Awards to high school seniors living in Upper Arlington, Ohio, who plan to attend a four-year college or university. We have renamed our awards in honor of one of our founding members, Stefanie Spielman (1967 - 2009). Stefanie's service to others and her compassionate and giving nature well represent the spirit of these awards.

The focus of these awards is humanitarian. We wish to honor students who have demonstrated compassion and understanding toward their fellow students, practiced good citizenship and contributed positively to the school environment and community. We want to recognize those students whose service to others is their hallmark.

To be eligible for this award, the student must be nominated by a guidance counselor, college counselor, teacher or administrator. The completed applications will be carefully reviewed by the Awards Committee of the UA Women's Club.

Questions? Please email Cathy Wheaton or call her at 614-451-7273.

The 2012 Humanitarian Awards Breakfast will be held on Friday, May 11, 2012 at the OSU Golf Club.   

fter she received her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1998, Stefanie Spielman made a brave decision to step forward to raise awareness and encourage funding for cancer research. With the support of her husband, Chris, she established the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research and the Stefanie Spielman Patient Assistance Fund at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Stefanie also created Stefanie's Champions, an annual luncheon event that honors the important and vital role of the cancer caregiver. Over a period of years, and with relentless dedication, Stefanie helped raise millions of dollars for innovative cancer research and improved patient care.

As a loving wife, the mother of four children, and as a woman of God, Stefanie was deeply involved in our community. She was a founding member of the Upper Arlington Women's Club, served as Grand Marshall of the UA 4th of July parade, was an actively involved parent at her children's schools, and she faithfully served Trinity United Methodist Church.

A 1989 OSU graduate with a degree in journalism, Stefanie was a proud OSU Buckeye. She was the recipient of numerous OSU awards including: the John B. Gerlach, Sr. Development Volunteer Award, the William Oxley Thompson Award, and she was a James Leadership Society Inductee. She also received the Ohio Governor's Award, the Upper Arlington Rotary Club's "Service Above Self" Award, and she was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.
   

--- Has focused on the environment which she is passionate about protecting, including being President of the UAHS Environmental Club for past 2 years. Through this club involved with Ewaste drives, bike to school days and helping to generate support to make UA a special improvement District for solar energy.

---Attended the national ceremony World Food Prize in Iowa as youth delegate. Founded a group based on this experience called "Students Against Hunger" to raise awareness to world hunger.

---Hosted two recent events at UA with proceeds going to Partners in Conservation and also "Green Day UA"

---Summer reading program volunteer

---Volunteers with the Capital Area Humane Society as a dog walker.

--- Has been involved in the arts. Works with fiber arts, mixed media, photography, sculpture & installation art.

--- Volunteers at the Open Door Art Studio where she works with disable adults.

--- Advocate for the UAHS community School which focuses on real world experiential learning and encourages students to "give back" to their community.

--- Participated in heart to Honduras Mission Trip.

--- Has earned a Gold Presidential Service Award for volunteer service which is over 4,000 hours

--- Involved with the "Bead for Life" project in which women in impoverished areas such as Uganda make jewelry to see. She has hosted 3 sales raising over $5,000.

--- Helped build home with Habitat for Humanity

--- Has designed and sold T-shirts for 4 years and part of her proceeds go to buy baby food for local food pantry.

--- Involved with the New Life mentoring program where she is currently serving as an art instructor at an urban youth center

--- Has been a "puppy trainer" for Pilot Dogs, Inc.Has helped raise 7 puppies since 2002

--- Volunteer with "Safety Town" every summer since 2004.

--- Assistant Director for the Jones Middle School Fall Production for the past 3 years in which she has dedicated over 300 hours of volunteer time to the production

--- Donated over 65 hours of her time to UA library

--- Is currently serving as a Junior Director for the UA Civic Association

--- Youth leader in Student Venture, serving as a spiritual leader, academic mentor and life counselor

--- Volunteer with the Stowe Baptist Homeless Shelter

--- Volunteer with the YWCA Homeless Shelter

The Upper Arlington Women's Club was proud to name Upper Arlington High School graduate Anna Leach as one of its Humanitarian Award recipients for 2008. Anna was described by one of her teachers as "upbeat, filled with purpose in life, and concerned with the well-being of others". Anna has a passion for learning and played a key role in bringing an American Sign Language course to U.A. High School, a first for the school.

Throughout her high school career, Anna gave countless volunteer hours of community service. She helped with the Children's Choir at her church and participated in the Tri-Village Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Anna also mentored a four-year-old girl with hearing loss. The goal Anna had with this young child was not only to mentor the girl and her family, but also to raise enough money to buy a very expensive hearing aid for her, all of which she accomplished.

When asked to choose one person throughout all of history whom she could meet, Anna chose Annie Sullivan, the friend and teacher of Helen Keller. Anna stated that, "Her courage, perseverance, and patience through great trials and challenges are traits I strive for in my own life."

The members of the UAWC found it to be very clear that Anna Leach was a young woman who stands out as a kind, thoughtful, and sincere person who is always willing to go the extra mile for others.

As a 2008 Upper Arlington Women's Club Humanitarian Award recipient from Bishop Watterson High School, Michael Krzan is an outstanding young man with many hours of community service to his credit. One of Michael's teachers said, "He works tirelessly toward his own goals and to help others. He accepts the role he is given and works to help the group achieve success."

Michael has a long list of activities and volunteer programs with which he was involved. He was a volunteer at Nationwide Children's Hospital, helped to build homes with Habitat for Humanity, and took two five-day trips to Kentucky where he helped provide food and gifts to people living in very depressed areas.

Michael Krzan exemplifies all of the qualities that the UAWC members look for in a Humanitarian Award winner. When asked to pick one person whom he could meet throughout all of history, Michael chose Mother Teresa, stating he was "amazed at her ability to tirelessly strive to live out her calling and help the poorest of the poor."

Rachel Creedon was described by one of her teachers as "a person who really cares about others." The Upper Arlington Women's Club was proud to name Rachel as a 2008 Humanitarian Award winner. Her teacher went on to say that "care is what drives Rachel to do the things that she does, she is a very genuine young lady who goes above and beyond the typical student."

Rachel was active in many organizations throughout her career at UAHS. She has a strong interest in psychology, and worked closely with one of her teachers to complete an independent study focusing on ways to help and counsel people battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder."

Rachel is also active with her church and went on a mission trip to Mexico. She worked with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and was a counselor for the UA sixth graders.

Rachel named Mother Teresa as the one person she would most like to meet because "she touched many lives and inspired so many others to help and to spread love, just as she did." Rachel Creedon has the qualities that the UAWC members look for in an award recipient - she certainly is compassionate and understanding of others.