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Raritan Valley Community College student Ronald Gazaway is the recipient of this year’s RVCC Service Learning Leadership Award. Gazaway is graduating this spring from the College’s Medical Assistant program.

The annual award honors students for their outstanding leadership and personal development attained through their service learning project and reflection activity. The award focuses on projects showing a high level of initiative in all areas of planning, including identifying the community need, planning the service, and putting that plan into action.

Gazaway is a true campus leader who has demonstrated his devotion to and compassion for volunteering through his Medical Assistant courses. As part of his service learning projects during the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Semesters, Gazaway regularly volunteered with RVCC’s Campus Resource Center and Food Pantry, which serves students, faculty and staff facing food insecurity challenges. After exceeding his courses’ service learning requirements, Gazaway continued to volunteer at the Center, helping the staff and other volunteers with events such as the inaugural Open House and mum sale fundraiser, and preparing sandwiches and picking up food donations from restaurants and supermarkets.

Gazaway also has become a certified volunteer for the NJ Sharing Network, a local organization that recovers and places donated organs and tissue. His volunteering efforts have included assisting at fundraising events and helping to bring awareness of the organization. The Sharing Network is focused on transplant research, family support, building awareness, and public education about the benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplant.

Through volunteering, “I learned the importance of making connections with people and being an effective communicator. No matter what someone’s circumstances or background are, they always appreciate others who are able to talk to them while being friendly, confident, respectful, open minded and empathetic. I look forward to utilizing many of these skills while working and learning to become an effective medical assistant at a medical office or hospital,” says Gazaway.

Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2020

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #121