Community volunteers from HSC honored for their contributions

As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute held at the Health Sciences Center on Jan. 13, seven men and women from the UW’s health sciences schools and UW Medical Center were honored with Volunteer Recognition Awards for their service to the community.

Melissa Alvarez, School of Pharmacy - Alvarez was honored for mentoring high school students and encouraging them to enter into health science professions, as well as for her efforts to foster diversity in the health-care arena.

Ekene “Kennie” Amaefule, School of Nursing - Amaefule works as a volunteer at the Trinity Life Center and Harborview Medical Center and remains involved with her village in Nigeria, raising money to educate elementary students and to drill a well.

Michael Astion, UW Medical Center - Dr. Astion was honored as a founder and sustaining force in Street Youth Ministries, which aids teens in moving off the street and into safer environments.

Stan de Mello, School of Social Work - de Mello was honored for his role in the School of Social Work Bridge Retreat for students of color, and for fundraising on behalf of Native American students in MSW programs in Washington state.

Reinaldo Negron, School of Dentistry - Dr. Negron has worked with low-income families in Seattle and in several underserved counties in Washington state, improving oral health for children and training undergraduate dental students to work with these populations.

Manuel Sierra, School of Medicine - Sierra was honored for his work with minority students interested in medical school and for volunteer health care projects. He is also a member of the UW President’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and organized last year’s Diversity Fair.

Bessie Young, School of Public Health and Community Medicine - Dr. Young was honored for her work to screen and educate African Americans about their high risk for diabetes. ¶