The Elon Buddies program, a partnership between Elon and Alamance Community College, was one of 20 recipients of the award statewide.
The Elon Buddies program has received special recognition from the governor's mansion.
The program, a partnership between Elon and Alamance Community College, was one of 20 recipients statewide to be honored with the Governor's Medallion Award for Volunteer Service.
Elon Buddies is part of Elon Volunteers! in the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. It gives Elon undergraduate students the opportunity to pair with special needs students enrolled in ACC's Career College program twice a month.
ACC's Career College is a two-year integrative certificate program for adults with intellectual or developmental and physical disabilities. It provides a foundation for transitioning into a career. Along with hands-on practicum experience, the students also learn to develop their reading, math and computer skills.
About 50 Elon and Alamance Community College students participate in Elon Buddies, which will celebrate its eighth year this fall.
In May, Elon Buddies representatives received the medallion from North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper. The group attending the medallion presentation included Mary Morrison, director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement; Liza Margules '21, Elon Buddies student coordinator; and Tim Haith, ACC Career College coordinator.
Every year since 2006, North Carolina has awarded the medallion to the top volunteers and volunteer organizations in the state. Each county can submit one nomination, and a statewide panel then reviews the nominations to select the Medallion recipients.
With Elon Buddies' selection, Alamance County has now produced a medallion recipient in eight of the award's 13-year existence.