Richard Lazaro-Alonso, a junior from Sanger majoring in criminology with a social work minor, was chosen as Fresno State’s 2012 Student Volunteer of the Year.

At the annual Service Recognition Reception on May 2, university President John D. Welty honored Lazaro-Alonso, several other students, faculty, staff and nonprofit community partners for their commitment to community engagement at Fresno State.

For the past two years the Fresno State campus community has annually provided in excess of 1 million hours of service to the central San Joaquin Valley.

Spirit of Service awards were presented, including the Special Recognition Award to Revitalize the Fresno State Community. The student action Revitalize group was formed in 2011 to counter an increase in crime activity in neighborhoods near the campus where many students live.

The Student Volunteer Award honors a student who has made a difference through exceptional gifts of time and talent to improve the quality of life in the region, said Renee Delport, special events and projects coordinator for the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning at Fresno State.

The focus of Lazaro-Alonso’s service work “has been on providing service to children who live in the Valley, particularly children who are in foster care and children whose families are homeless,” said Michael Eberhard, president of Fresno State’s Intrafraternity Council, who nominated him.

Lazaro-Alonso grew up in the foster care system and was eventually homeless. In the past two years, he has volunteered more than 300 hours with organizations that serve foster children and the homeless population of Fresno such as Aspiranet and Bulldog Pantry.

“I didn’t always have a lot of support growing up, but there were those special people who helped me along and helped me get to where I am today,” Lazaro-Alonso said. “Now I want to help other kids and be that positive support for them.”

Ten students were nominated for the award and there were four finalists. The other finalists are Leah Rath, Jessica Medina and Jemuel Gascon. A committee of students, faculty and staff selected the finalists and winner.

During the recognition event, 67 students were awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award – a gold, silver or bronze lapel pin, a certificate and letter signed by President Obama and recognizing volunteer service hours the past academic year.

Eight Spirit of Service awards were presented to “the best of the best” that Fresno State has to offer in community service, Delport said.

In addition to Lazaro-Alonso and Revitalize Fresno Efforts, they are: Barbara Beauchamp, Humanics Program; Janice Gonzalez, Community Service Scholarship; Maria Flores-Jimenez, Scholars Service Grant; Every Neighborhood Partnership, Community Partner; Kim Morin (theatre arts), Faculty Member; and Peter Robertson (Fresno State Alumni Association), Staff Member.

For more info, contact Delport at 559.278.7063 or 559.250.7724.

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