Jersey City, N.J. – May 20, 2016 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that Erich Sekel, associate director of campus ministry, has been selected as a 2016 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award honoree for his work with The Campus Kitchen at Saint Peter’s University. According to the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards for Public Service, honorees of the award are individuals who achieve measurable community impact and represent outstanding acts of public service, without the expectation of recognition or compensations.
The Campus Kitchen at Saint Peter’s University is a student-led community service project that provides free, healthy meals to local residents by using donated food that would otherwise go to waste. Meals are served to the homeless, the elderly, families and children in need locally and nearly 20,000 meals have already been served since the Kitchen’s inception in September 2014. There are currently 52 schools in the country with a Campus Kitchen and Saint Peter’s is one of two in the state of New Jersey.
“A primary component of a Jesuit education is to inspire students to be ‘men and women for others’ and our Campus Kitchen is not only helping us to live out our mission, but it is having a tremendous impact on our local community,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “Without Erich’s leadership, our success with the Kitchen would not have been possible as he led the construction of the kitchen, engaged local volunteers and motivated our students to become involved. We are proud that he will be honored along with these other leaders in New Jersey who are making an impact across the state.”
Nearly two dozen honorees were selected from more than 500 nominations by a panel of more than 50 judges. The categories for the honorees include health care, service to youth, faith-based service, education and environment. The awards will be presented at an annual gala on Monday, June 6 at the Newark Museum.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
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