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Volunteer of the Month

Nominate a Student or Graduate for Volunteer of the Month

Nominate a UMGC student or graduate today to be the next Volunteer of the Month. This recognition highlights outstanding student and alumni volunteers who serve their communities. Each month, one volunteer will be honored.

UMGC faculty, staff, alumni, and students are encouraged to submit nominations of outstanding volunteers who show a high level of commitment to helping others. This commitment can be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including consistent participation, a willingness to give extra effort, and going beyond the duties of their role.

Important Information

 

October 2024: Gerette Balon, current student

Gerette Balon is being recognized for her dedication to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) chapter at UMGC. Balon joined the officer board in 2022 as the director of engagement, managing the SHRM at UMGC virtual community, and then moved into the vice president and president roles. As the president of the SHRM chapter at UMGC, Balon leads the other officers in holding chapter events, attends UMGC events to represent the chapter, posts regularly in the virtual community, and recruits new officers to fill open positions. Her consistent participation has kept the chapter moving forward.

Balon views her role in the SHRM chapter at UMGC as beneficial both to her and to other students. In addition to enhancing her own career and résumé, she positively influences the lives of others. “My favorite thing is playing an integral role in other students' development as they navigate their human resource journey,” says Balon. “Sharing my passion with UMGC inspires more than an incredible connection—it provides a foundation to change students' lives and families, as well as the communities that they live in around the globe.” Balon believes that volunteering helps give her a sense of purpose.

In addition to her service to the SHRM chapter, Balon served on a student panel in June, sharing insight on the student experience with an audience of UMGC staff members. She is pursuing an undergraduate degree in human resource management with a minor in cybersecurity.

September 2024: Stephanie Perry, current student 

Inspired by the activism of Dorothy Height, a civil rights and women’s rights advocate, Stephanie Perry has dedicated her life to making a difference.

Perry’s enthusiasm for community service began in high school with her volunteer work helping adults improve their literacy skills. Later, motivated by her son, Perry became the Washington, D.C., area coordinator for 100 Fathers Inc., a grassroots organization dedicated to educating and training men to be responsible fathers. She provided fathers with resources, mentorship, and guidance while collaborating with other advocates to develop mentorship programs, advocate for policy changes, and host community events focused on fatherhood, male responsibility, and family well-being.

Building on her passion to equip and strengthen parents, Perry founded the 101 Mothers Inc. in 2014. This organization offers mothers similar resources, mentorship, and support to help them navigate the challenges of parenting. Through this initiative, she continues to address the unique needs of mothers, empowering them with the tools they need to raise their children. In 2023, Maryland state senator C. Anthony Muse awarded her a senatorial citation for her commitment.

Perry, a true example of how grassroots volunteer work can address the unique needs of individuals and create a ripple effect in areas like child-rearing and co-parenting, recognizes that healthy parents and children are the cornerstone of a thriving society. She says, “We are here to help others, not just ourselves.”

Perry is pursuing an undergraduate certificate in human resource management.

August 2024: Gavata Smith, current student

Gavata Smith’s challenging childhood has inspired her to help others who need extra support. A firm believer in second chances, Smith volunteers with Catholic Charities in Maryland, acting as a mentor for women returning home after a period of incarceration. Through the Welcome Home Reentry Program, Smith shares resources and provides moral support to help women readjust to society. She has also served on the Women Moving Forward Committee—a cohort of current and retired judges, prison officials, probation officers, and other local government activists—for the last three years. The committee sponsors an annual conference at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women to assist, encourage, and teach women how to become better versions of themselves when they reenter society. “I encourage those who feel that they can't start over,” says Smith. “They need someone to call in the middle of the night, when they can't sleep and depression is overwhelming.”

In addition to her volunteer work, Smith wrote a book, Get Yourself Together First, about her experiences as the child of a recovering addict and how forgiveness was the bond that rekindled a great relationship. “This experience fueled a passion within me to turn it into a positive life’s mission,” says Smith. She has shared her story in various speaking engagements.

Smith, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in applied technology, also has a YouTube series, “Employment Tips, Trends, and Tricks,” to assist others with their job searches.

July 2024: Eileen Brewer, current student

Eileen Brewer chose to serve on the UMGC Student Advisory Council (STAC) to help amplify the voice of the student body and to feel more connected with other students. Her three-year service on the council includes one term as secretary and another as executive chair. As executive chair, she regularly planned, attended, and ran the monthly meetings. She also led efforts for the first STAC Town Hall, which enabled STAC representatives to hear from students directly, and represented UMGC students on the University System of Maryland Student Council.

Brewer gained her interest in volunteering from her parents, who dedicated their time to helping others, even though they did not have a lot themselves. “I learned that once you have resolved the struggle of ensuring you have the basic necessities, it is important to make sure those around you also have what they need to survive,” she says. Brewer also volunteers for nonprofit organizations where she lives. Her favorite part about volunteering is working with others and being part of the volunteer communities, which often feel like family. She says, “UMGC students already belong to great communities—like the military, families, and adult learners—but we also belong to the awesome community that is UMGC.” Brewer hopes that her role in STAC will enable her to help other students feel a part of that community.

June 2024: Alumni, staff, and student Global Give volunteers

In recognition of National Volunteer Month in April 2024, more than 50 UMGC alumni, students, and staff members came together to support the second annual UMGC Global Give Maryland Volunteer Day. This year’s theme focused on food insecurity and nutrition awareness. Activities included distributing boxes of groceries to 100 families, kids’ coloring, healthy smoothie demos and tastings, taking fun photos with banana costume characters, bilingual storytelling, and creating 250 handwritten messages to teachers across Prince George’s County. Thanks to all the volunteers for giving back to our community and helping make the day a success!

May 2024: Lawrence Gross Jr., '97, '16

Lawrence Gross Jr. is a retired federal senior executive and federal regulatory corporate executive with more than 40 years of combined federal and military leadership experience. In March, Gross participated in UMGC’s Career Fair as a volunteer, using his experience to advise and support students and alumni looking for new careers or advancement.

Gross holds bachelor's and master’s degrees in information systems technology/management, a Chief Information Officer certification from the National Defense University, and a Balanced Scorecard certificate from George Washington University. Gross is a member of various professional information technology–related organizations and is the recipient of several prestigious military and civilian awards, including the Presidential Award for leading the federal Financial Management Line of Business initiative; the Department of Energy Secretary's Award for Leadership in Electronic Government; the Department of Justice Attorney General’s Award; and the Federal 100 Award, which recognizes government and industry leaders who have played pivotal roles in the federal government IT community.

Upon his retirement, Gross founded Etegrity Strategic Partners, a strategic consulting firm, and GenWealth Financial Services and serves as CEO of both entities. He is also an adjunct professor at the College of Southern Maryland and at UMGC.

 

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