Samuel Frank (left) and Pace Center Assistant Director David Brown.
When the University sent students, staff, and faculty home at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 to protect everyone’s health and safety, Frank sought to return from California to continue as an emergency medical technician (EMT) to serve and support the local Princeton community.
As David Brown, assistant director at the Pace Center and staff adviser to the SVC, described in his introduction, Frank’s determination to not only come back, but organize others to continue to support PFARS in a critical time of need demonstrated not only his perseverance, but his care for everyone around him. “He came out and he showed it could be done, showed it could be safe,” he said. “By him doing the right thing, and really bringing us all together to do the right thing, in taking risk and thinking outside the box, that’s entrepreneurship and I’m glad we’re honoring it.”
Each year, the John H. Pace, Jr. ’39 Center for Civic Engagement honors students and community members for their commitment, dedication, and innovation in the realm of service and civic engagement. At an outdoor luncheon Wednesday, November 17, the Pace Center acknowledged the contributions of four Princeton University seniors, a faculty member, and two community partners.
Given in honor of A. James Fisher, Jr. ’36, the A. James Fisher Memorial Award is presented to a Princeton senior, or seniors, who best exemplifies the qualities for which Fisher is remembered. The Fisher Award acknowledges a demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, zest for life, love of people, and loyalty to Princeton through work in the realm of civic engagement.
“Each of our awardees is responding to the needs of the world,” said Kimberly de los Santos, the John C. Bogle ’51 and Burton G. Malkiel *64 Executive Director of the Pace Center, as she addressed the crowd under the tent outside the Louis A. Simpson building. “They are motivated by their own values, they have developed relationships with those they are engaged with, and they are also carrying through the social responsibility they have – using their privilege and power, in whatever ways they have it – to make this world more equitable as well as more joyous."
The gathering was an opportunity to both celebrate and connect, as awardees, friends, and colleagues shared time and a meal together. Each award recipient was introduced by a Princeton staff member or colleague and received a framed award in acknowledgement of their contributions.
“Service is an important part of each of our lives, but it’s often something that is less visible at Princeton,” de los Santos added. “Gatherings like this give us an opportunity to celebrate service – to see each other, to honor each other, and to be in community, with community.”