AmeriCorps Award

Buffalo –Aimee Kelly, academic coordinator for the Upward Bound program at D’Youville College, received the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Award’ from WNY AmeriCorps for her work in the local community. "The award is given to members who truly care and show passion in serving with AmeriCorps,” according to the organization.

In nominating her, Upper Bound Director Trey Randle, cited her for her leadership roles in the Upward Bound program at the college and for her implementation of the scholars’ individual service learning plans.

She was also a volunteer in the WNY AmeriCorps ‘Community Revitalization and Transformation Project’ during the "Extreme Makeover Home Edition” television show filmed in Buffalo earlier this year.

"Aimee was instrumental in putting the Food Drive together, and insuring its success in raising nearly 90 tons of food donations,” Randle said in her nomination.

She is also involved in student organizations that helps create successful student businesses and to meet the needs of people around the world. The organization, ‘Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship’, in concert with Global Health Services, helped build clean water wells for people in Sierra Leone. The project has provided 42 families permanent access to clean water.

"Due in large part to her leadership and mentoring the SAGE Upward Bound placed second in the State Regional Competition and will compete in the national competition later this month,” Randle said.