Seven recipients of the 2005 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award were honored at an April 21 ceremony for their dedication to improving the St. Louis region.
The Ethic of Service Award annually recognizes a select group of University community members who exemplify a character of service and giving to the St. Louis region.
Created last year as part of the University’s commemoration of its 150th anniversary, the award was initially named the Sesquicentennial Ethic of Service Award. This year, the award was renamed to acknowledge the generous support of Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil and to recognize the couple’s service to others.
Stephanie Kurtzman, director of community service and administrator of the award, sees the Virgil name as a perfect fit.
“The Ethic of Service Award is an inspiring testimony to the good work being done in St. Louis by members of our University community,” Kurtzman said. “It is so fitting that the award be attached to the Virgils’ name and their years of dedicated service to St. Louis and to Washington University.”
Bob and Gerry Virgil have been outstanding citizens of both the University and St. Louis communities for decades.
Bob Virgil has held a variety of leadership positions during his long career at the University.
He led the Olin School of Business through its biggest period of growth and development when he served as dean from 1977-1993. In 1992, he was named executive vice chancellor for university relations.
The Virgils continued their joint involvement with the University after his retirement in 1993 to join Edward Jones as a general partner. Several years later, he volunteered to steer a committee to celebrate the University’s 150th anniversary.
The Virgils support a number of organizations that advance the region. Gerry Virgil is a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization and is an active supporter of Kirkwood’s Meals on Wheels program and the Glendale Presbyterian Church.
Bob Virgil has been involved in a number of St. Louis organizations, including the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, The Magic House, City Academy, Harris-Stowe State College, Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School, and a citizens’ task force on the Metropolitan Sewer District.
Nominations for next year’s awards will be accepted until Feb. 10.
Any member of the University community who resides in and serves the St. Louis region is eligible to be nominated.
For more information on the award and to submit a nomination, go online to ethicofservice.wustl.edu or call Kurtzman at 935-9659.
2005 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award recipients
The following members of the University community were honored April 21 as recipients of the University’s 2005 Gerry and Bob Virgil Ethic of Service Award.
Stacy Brock, a senior majoring in psychology and in educational studies, both in Arts & Sciences, established and manages a tutoring program at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys and Girls Club in East St. Louis.
Brock not only runs the program, but she also works to educate University students on social issues in an attempt to create an understanding of her program’s mission.
Jami Crespo is a senior majoring in Spanish and social thought and analysis, both in Arts & Sciences.
She has served as an executive board member for Dance Marathon and as a program leader for Campus Y’s WUSTL HOPE (HIV Outreach, Prevention and Education). Crespo’s involvement in WUSTL HOPE has led her to coordinate and teach HIV-education programs for her peers and St. Louis community members.
This year, Crespo also directed the A.I.D.S. Show (Artistic Interpretation Designed to Stimulate), a variety show that raised campus and community awareness.
Marla Esser, a 1984 alumna of the School of Engineering & Applied Science, was selected for her work organizing and mentoring students to run the Washington University Marrow Registry.
In 2001, she helped launch the Million Marrow Donor Program, which added 2,500 donors with its first drive. She has assisted with marrow drives at the University and helped to found B Positive, an organization the hosts drives and educates the public on bone marrow diseases.
In 1993, Bob Hansman, associate professor of architecture, started a small program for children who were living in poverty in St. Louis to teach them how to draw and paint. In 1999, he began the Hewlett Program in Architecture, which introduces undergraduate students — particularly incoming freshmen — to cultural and social aspects of St. Louis.
Hansman received a World of Difference Award in 1996, and a Missouri Arts Award and an award from Colin Powell’s “America’s Promise” campaign in 1999.
Sara Lawlyes, a School of Law student, serves as a regional alumni coordinator for Teach For America and is considering working for the Teach For America organization after graduation.
Through her position as chair of the community service committee of the Student Bar Association, she has coordinated many projects, including the law school’s blood drives, Public Service Fair, holiday giving tree and a team for Relay For Life.
For more than 25 years, Elinor Nelson has worked in the University’s financial services department as a grant analyst.
In addition to her work at the University, Nelson is active in the community and in her church. In 2000, she founded 2000 Feet Inc., which provides shoes for children in the St. Louis area. After nearly five years, 2000 Feet has provided 652 children with shoes.
As the associate dean for diversity, director of the Office of Diversity Programs, and assistant professor of medicine in the Renal Division in the School of Medicine, Will Ross, M.D., promotes cultural diversity throughout the Medical Campus. A longtime advocate of public health and health care for the medically underserved, he has produced educational videos, public service announcements and monographs on eliminating health-care disparities.
Ross was awarded the “Humanism in Medicine Award” by the medical school in 2001.