Two University Service Awards Presented At ESU's Spring Commencement

Two ESU University Service Awards were presented to graduating seniors, Kelly Dries of Coopersburg, Pa., and Robert Ruiz of Ridgefield Park, N.J., at spring commencement exercises at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 10, 2008. These awards are the highest non-academic honors that graduating seniors can receive for performance in demonstrating outstanding service to the university through on-campus extra-curricular activities. To be eligible for the awards, a student must have attended the university for at least two years and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.60 or above.

Kelly Dries, received a bachelor's degree in English education at Saturday's ceremony. Throughout her four years as an ESU student, Ms. Dries was active in numerous campus organizations and held officer positions in many of them. She served as a member of the university's Council of Trustees for three years, sitting at various times on the trustees' committees for community and media relations and student and academic affairs. She has been an orientation leader for four years and served on the orientation selection committee and as a member of the National Orientation Directors Association (NODA). She was a member of the Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor fraternity, serving as vice president and president during her three-year membership.

A member of the Student Senate for two years, Ms. Dries was the group's yearbook chair, co-chair of the Hurricane Relief Committee, and a member of the Community on the Quad and the Public Relations Committees. She was a member/participant of the Body Confidence Consortium, the National Eating Disorders Association, Philadelphia Urban Seminar, Society of Success, Omicron Delta Kappa (vice president for one year), Kappa Delta Pi, the Pennsylvania Association of Developmental Educators (PADE), ESU's Diversity Committee, Alcohol Task Force, University Senate, Bylaws Committee, and Communications Committee.

Dries has been a volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Monroe County and STD Book Readings. She also participated in the Pink Light Walk, the American Heart Walk and the Buddy Walk to raise awareness and donations for charity. She served on the staff of the university's student newspaper, The Stroud Courier, as a reporter, copy editor, arts and entertainment editor, news editor and sports editor. She has written for the Pocono Lifestyle Magazine and was a tutor for ESU's writing studio. She was a member of ESU's field hockey team for two years.

Kelly is the daughter of Sharon and Russell Dries of Coopersburg, Pa.

Robert Ruiz received his bachelor's degree in sociology at the spring commencement ceremonies.
Mr.Ruiz was a member of the Student Senate throughout his years at ESU, serving in various capacities including president, coordinator of extra-curricular affairs and treasurer. Ruiz was a member of the University-Wide Senate for two years and an ESU Ambassador for three years. He was a volunteer for the Special Olympics, an orientation leader for two years and recently served as chair of the Board of Directors for the Student Activity Association.

Ruiz was also a member of ESU's Judicial Program Review, the Order of Omega, the NODA Regional Conference Committee, the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society, the Middle States Association Self Study, the Tsunami Relief Initiative, the Science and Technology Ribbon Cutting Committee, the Noonan Endowment Fund Committee, and the Student Trustee Search Committee. He served as a member of the Theta Chi fraternity (president for the 2006-07 academic year) and was the secretary/treasurer for ESU's Inter Fraternity Council for a year.

Ruiz is the son of Jose and Eliva Ruiz of Ridgefield Park, N.J.