Service to our citizens and community is central to the mission of The University of Tulsa. In recognition of community service, TU established the Medicine Wheel Award honoring faculty, staff, students and organizations that provide meritorious contributions toward the well-being of our community. Award recipients for the 2017-18 academic year were honored at the May 2018 Commencement ceremony.
Paul Ahner – Staff
Engineering information specialist, Petroleum Abstracts
Ahner volunteers weekly as a delivery driver for a community-based emergency food pantry. As one of its most faithful volunteers, he has delivered groceries to thousands of individuals during the past several years and his efforts have greatly assisted those with food security challenges in our community.
Kimberly Adams – Faculty
Senior instructor of mathematics, College of Engineering & Natural Sciences
Adams, a fierce advocate for women in science, engineering, technology and math fields, serves as volunteer instructor of Tulsa Girls’ Math Circle, an education outreach initiative for middle school girls that aims to build their confidence in mathematics. She also leads the Julia Robinson Math Festival on TU’s campus, hosting hundreds of K-12 students annually.
Conner Bender – Student
Junior, College of Engineering & Natural Sciences
In partnership with Sodexo, Bender initiated a campus meal swipe donation program that allows students to anonymously donate unused meals from their dining plan to food-insecure peers. He also serves as a Tulsa Young Professionals Non-Profit Board intern at the Parent Child Center of Tulsa.
Beta Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) – Organization
Accepting, Theresa Nguyen, APO president
APO has logged in excess of 2,100 hours of community service to more than 30 nonprofit organizations in the Greater Tulsa community. This year, APO traveled to Houston to lend a hand to those affected by Hurricane Harvey and held on-campus donation drives for the American Red Cross.