Jessica Michael of Clifton Park, N.Y., honored at Fairfield University | Press Releases

Jessica Michael of Clifton Park, N.Y., has received a Student Achievement Award from Fairfield University's Alumni Association for her dedication to the Adopt-A-Grandparent program. She received her award during the association's annual Student Awards Dinner on Tuesday, April 20.

Always close to her own grandparents, Michael spends a lot of time with older residents at Bridgeport Health Care Center, where she has been a social services intern for the past two years. Noticing many could use some company, she went to a 2002 Campus Ministry meeting with a sign-up sheet and recruited about 30 volunteers who wanted to adopt a grandparent. Fairfield students continue to visit with the seniors, playing checkers, chatting and going for strolls in the sunshine, and Michael is busy training a successor to lead the vital program.

In addition to her commitment to Adopt-A-Grandparent, Michael has succeeded academically, pursuing a chemistry major and math minor and pre-med concentration. She's consistently made the Dean's List and is a member of three honor societies: Alpha Epsilon Delta, for pre-med professionals; Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society; and Pi Mu Epsilon, for mathematics. She received the Chemistry Department's Book Award and the Analytical Chemistry Award.

Michael participated in four Theatre Fairfield productions, played intramural softball, sang with the Loyola Singers and chaired the International Student Orientation Program. In addition, she leads chemistry review sessions for freshmen and offers one-on-one tutoring. She was also part of a recent Mission Volunteer trip to Ecuador.