Hisako Fujitsuka Awards

This award is given each year to one or two full-time undergraduate international students who have demonstrated exceptional service, academic excellence, commitment, and caring within the Syracuse University community. Two awards may be given, consisting of a certificate and cash prize of $500.00. A luncheon is hosted by the selection committee for the recipients, their nominators and those who write recommendation letters for the winner(s).

Criteria:

1. Full-time undergraduate student who has completed at least one year at Syracuse University.
2. Currently on a non-immigrant student visa. (F-1 or J-1 status)
3. GPA of 3.4 or better.
4. Demonstrated service to the community.

Award Process:

Nominations accepted from:

• Syracuse University faculty and staff
• Self-nominations from students

Nominees must submit:

• Completed application form
• An essay on the topic "What I have learned through service and caring" Limit: 500 words
• Two letters of reference (one must be from a faculty member at Syracuse University)
• Your resume

Nominees must submit a completed application by March 22, 2006 to Award Selection Committee, c/o Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services, 310 Walnut Place, Syracuse, NY 13244.

2005 HFA Recipient

Mr. Mlungisi Mabele (South Africa) and Mr. Valerij Petrulevich (Lithuania) were honored in May 2005 as the recipient of the Hisako Fujitsuka award. The award is given each year to recognize full-time international undergraduate students at Syracuse University. The award seeks to identify those who have demonstrated exceptional services, commitments, and caring within the Syracuse University community. The award consists of a certificate and a cash prize of $500

Brief Summary about the Recipients of the 2005 Hisako Fujitsuka Award

~ Mlungisi Mabele, MC to all who know him, is a junior from South Africa majoring in management. In the words of his nominators, “MC struck me with his engaging and warm personality. It was not surprising to learn that he has been involved with helping others through various activities.” Thus, his focus areas in management are supply chain management and emerging enterprises and entrepreneurship seems a good fit. MC provides insight into his vision. “Change is not always as fast and sudden as a light switch. It may take years to harvest the seeds of change that we plant. But by keeping the focus at the seeds we plant in people’s lives, we can remain positive because of the differences we can easily observe.” Another nominator said: “Mlungisi also has an impressive level of community involvement.” He directs the tutoring program for refugee children of Africa at including the HW Smith School, is the president of the Syracuse University African Student Union, and has helped new international students when they arrive. In all of these efforts, MC has made a difference in people lives.

~ Valerij Petrulevich, VP to all who know him, is a senior from Lithuania majoring in information management and technology. In the words of his nominators, he has excelled as a student athlete, student teaching assistant, and in leadership and guidance among his teammates on the track team. He was responsible for assembling a computer lab and became partially responsible for its functionality. In addition, he maintained all computers in the Psychology department. Athletically he has been on the Syracuse University Track team since his arrival and in 2005 was the Big East Conference Champion in the 800 meter indoor track event. In 2002 he was the Lithuanian National Champion in the 400meter outdoor track event. Valerij best expresses his view on volunteerism in a comment from his essay: “There is nothing more pleasant than a person’s sincere smile, showing the gratitude for the help you’ve provided. It’s like a magic, takes over your senses and thoughts, and all you can do is just smile back.” Another nominator commented, “We are so fortunate to have a student with VP’s attitude, actions, and vision.”

2004 Hisako Fujitsuka Awards Recipients

Mr. Suren Haresh Chotirmall (India) was honored in May 2004 as the recipient of the Hisako Fujitsuka award. The award is given each year to recognize full-time international undergraduate students at Syracuse University. The award seeks to identify those who have demonstrated exceptional services, commitments, and caring within the Syracuse University community. The award consists of a certificate and a cash prize of $500

Brief Summary about the Recipients of the 2004 Hisako Fujitsuka Award

~ Mr. Suren Haresh Chotirmall is a junior from India, although he has lived most of his life in Singapore. He is studying finance and supply chain management. He has been involved in community service through the guidance of his family. He has worked with street-children projects in India and Thailand, juvenile delinquents in Singapore, and the elderly community in Syracuse.

He says in his essay: "One of the most important things that I have learned through service and caring, is the misconception that monetary donations are the best method of helping the community. Coming into direct contact with people, overcoming communication barriers and spending time and effort to help people directly, and visibly seeing the joy and happiness in the faces of those you help is more satisfying and more personally rewarding."

2003 Hisako Fujitsuka Awards Recipients

~ Mr. John Bitok from Kenya is a junior majoring in biochemistry. He has excelled in his chosen field of study (five member of the Deans list) while serving as captain of the cross-country track team at Syracuse University. John is a member of the Student Athlete Council, a Bio 121/123 Lab Assistant, and performs community service through the Athlete Council and Athletic Department. Among the activities: visiting elementary schools and reading books to the kids, visitation to the Ronald McDonald House and helped with house activities. His activities are numerous and not limited to those just mentioned.

John best expresses the character he has in this comment from his essay: "Serving the community surpasses personal needs at time. It is healthy to think for the betterment of others, always. There wasn't anyone at that moment to see what we were doing but it made me feel that I had done something worthy." One of his recommender's said this about him: "I have never heard John turn down a request for help from a peer, from explaining homework to showing a freshman their way on campus." When he completes his undergraduate degree he will make his application for medical school.

~ Mr. Mohammad Reza Khorasani from Iran is a junior majoring in bioengineering. He has excelled in his field and thus far has a perfect cumulative undergraduate grade point average. Mohammad has volunteered over 500 hours at the Upstate Medical University. In addition to being an undergraduate teaching assistant in physics, as a member and later co-President of Phi Eta Sigma, Mohammad participated in Egg Hunt, an event for the children of international scholars and students attending SU, Kid's Fest, a program in which inner city school children are bused to Syracuse University for a day of festivities, the baking and delivery of ginger bread houses to the pediatric wards of Crouse and University Hospitals, and volunteered at the Rescue Mission.

Mohammad gives insight to his character in his comments from his personal essay: "I have come to realize that absorption and active participation in American society does not preclude the preservation of my religious and ethnic identity. I have learned the importance of being opened minded and to accept difference." One of his recommender's said this about him: (His)"unselfish attitude will enable him to achieve his goals, in addition to helping others achieve their goals." When he completes his undergraduate degree he will accept the offer of admission to Upstate Medical University.