PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 21, No. 7, Oct. 4, 2001

Campus Award for Excellence in Public Service
Recipients honored for public service, outreach

Two faculty members, one academic professional staff member and two students are this yearÕs recipients of the Campus Award for Excellence in Public Service.

Established last year, the awards program was developed to recognize those who fulfill the universityÕs commitment to using their scholarly, creative or professional knowledge for the purpose of improving the well-being of Illinois citizens. Recipients were honored at a banquet Oct. 3.

The program is an extension of the Partnership Illinois initiative and the Senate Committee on Continuing Education and Public Service.

Photo by Bill Wiegand J. Fred Giertz

J. Fred Giertz
professor, Institute of Government and Public Affairs
Colleagues who nominated Giertz for the award spoke of his exceptional leadership in taxation and public finance in Illinois. One of the most recognized of his public service activities is the "Flash Index of Economic Growth." Giertz and another colleague created the Index in order to provide unbiased and informative economic news on the Illinois state economy. A member of the campus News Bureau wrote in support of GiertzÕs nomination, "The Index has become an enormous success, used by scores of newspapers around the state, by dozens of radio stations, by private economists in Chicago, Washington and New York, and by the state of Illinois itself." His forecast of state revenue and the future economy has proven useful as a source of reliable information and expertise on budget, finance and tax issues to the general public, professionals and business people in the state.

Photo by Bill Wiegand Leonard F. Heumann

Leonard F. Heumann
professor emeritus, urban and regional planning Since Heumann joined the department of urban and regional planning in 1970, he has used scholarship and teaching as tools to impact constituencies outside the university. As a founding member and continuing board member of the Homestead Corp., a group representing low-income needs in Champaign, he has become known as a local advocate for providing housing for homeless families and individuals. His courses have engaged students in service learning projects to help the Homestead board plan and develop housing projects. In 1998, Heumann agreed to serve as a Strategic Partnership Illinois Coordinator, focusing on the Community Vitality and Economic Development initiative. He developed a model for the UI to engage with the needs of Champaign-UrbanaÕs low-income community, and the C-U Urban Exchange Center has recently hired its first director. Currently, Heumann serves as chair of the Planning Commission in the City of Champaign.

Craig A. Miller Sr.
project associate, East St. Louis Action Research Project
Miller joined the East St. Louis Action Research Project (ESLARP) in 1997. Since that time, he has worked with a variety of East St. Louis-based organizations, including non-profit community housing developers, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations and municipal agencies to improve the quality of life for East St. Louis residents. His innovative approach to problem-solving and design has served the community in a variety of ways, including providing architectural assistance. As a letter supporting his nomination pointed out, "he gives from his heart and with his heart, and his patience is almost unimaginable. In an environment that can seem bleak and discouraging, working with Craig is always motivating, energizing and rewarding."

Student winners

Suzan Akin, psychology
Akin became involved in public service in her freshman year by directing the Urban Development Project for Volunteer Illini Projects (VIP). VIP engages Illinois student volunteers with Champaign-Urbana community needs, and the Urban Development Project works on infrastructure, social and economic goals of targeted city neighborhoods. This year, she was unanimously elected chair of VIP. Most recently, Akin has worked as part of a team to unify the various student community service organizations on campus. One nominator described Akin as "representing the highest ideals of the renaissance woman and a civic-minded student. She is a role-model and leader for peers, as well as a powerful force for service on this campus."

Jessica Lynn Philips, political science
Philips demonstrated leadership in public service through her work with the UI Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, helping to make it one of the most successful student community service organizations. In 1999, Philips worked as the education and fund-raising director, raising awareness and funding for the Habitat for Humanity Homecoming House. Since then, she has served as vice president of the student Habitat for Humanity Board. Philips is described as "a worker, cheerleader, negotiator and leader. She has encouraged and prodded the student chapter to accomplish much. But most importantly, through her influence the student chapter collected the resources and built two homes for families in Urbana-Champaign."