Last month, the University of Nevada, Reno’s Honors Program recognized Alex Ellison and Jennifer Kielhofer for their achievements within the program.

Ellison, a member of AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America, received the 2011 Nevada AmeriCorps VISTA Member of the Year award. She was placed by Nevada Volunteers in the University’s Honors Program to help encourage volunteerism and service-learning on campus.

“It was a thrill receiving this award,” Ellison said. “I am working with the Nevada Volunteers and the Honors Program because I deeply care about this work – promoting community engagement as an integral part of the college experience – and it feels great to be recognized.”

Ellison continued, explaining her thoughts about the past year.

“It has been a roller coaster of a year with many challenges and accomplishments, and I have learned a great deal from all of these experiences. I am so grateful to my mentors on and off campus who have taught me so much and were willing to try new things and work with me, despite being a novice in this field. I am so eager to use what I have learned this year in my future endeavors."

Recent University graduate Jennifer Kielhofer received the 2011 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship award. The award will help support graduate school costs. She plans to attend the University of Arizona in Tucson and study archeology in the fall.

“I can hardly believe I was a recipient of such an honor,” Kielhofer said. “The $5,000 will probably pay for my first-year or first-semester tuition for graduate school so it is a huge help financially. I am thrilled to be a recipient, and winning the fellowship means a great deal to me.”