Carl Peschel, CHOPIN Hall Board President, Crystal Jones, award recipient, and Julie Brown, CHOPIN Hall director.

Crystal Jones, Campus Compact coordinator at The University of Findlay, was honored by CHOPIN (Christians Helping Other People in Need) Hall with the 2007 Community Volunteer of the Year award at a special ceremony June 22.

“Crystal has facilitated many opportunities for UF students, student groups and classes to partner with CHOPIN Hall through direct volunteering, service learning and group projects,” said Julie Brown, CHOPIN Hall director. “This collaboration … expands our volunteer resources and infuses the energy and talents of youth into an aging volunteer base. Through Crystal's leadership, UF volunteers have become so important to CHOPIN Hall and its mission that we spend summer anxiously awaiting August and the return of our enthusiastic UF volunteers!”

Jones noted that she accepted the award “on behalf of the many UF students, including classes, Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and international students, that have volunteered at CHOPIN Hall.”

“I want to personally thank you for opening your doors to University volunteers,” said Jones to a room of CHOPIN Hall volunteers. “It is invaluable for students to see adult volunteers that are so committed to serving their own communities. My hope is that these student volunteers will be engaged in their future communities because of their service experiences while at UF.”

At the University, Jones is responsible for identifying creative ways to connect UF students with local community agencies such as CHOPIN Hall.

Students, faculty or staff interested in serving the Findlay-Hancock County community should contact Jones at 419-434-6671 or cjones@findlay.edu.