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In the spirit of St. Edmund Campion, the George B. Sweeney Endowed Campion Award for Service recognizes one sophomore student and one junior student each year with a demonstrated record of involvement in community service and social action, dedication to a faith tradition and/or spirituality, and strong evidence of leadership potential.

This is a one-year, $1,000 award given to one sophomore and one junior each year. The Center for Service and Social Action also administers up to $500 in additional funds to each Campion Award recipient for an approved campus-based service project.

Established in 1996 by JCU alumnus George B. Sweeney ’55, this fund honors John Carroll University students who have made significant service contributions, both on campus and in our larger community and who are committed to becoming leaders in social action. The award is named for St. Edmund Campion, an English Jesuit who was martyred in 1581. Campion rejected a life of prestige, power, and wealth to spend his life in service to others in most need.

The George B. Sweeney Endowed Campion Award for Service is available to full-time, enrolled, sophomore and junior students who are in good academic standing (a GPA of 2.0 or higher) and good University standing. All candidates meeting the required conditions of the award are eligible for consideration.

Candidates should have a strong background in the following (1) record of involvement in community service and social action, (2) involvement/dedication to a faith tradition and/or spirituality, and (3) strong evidence of leadership potential.

Selection Process: Awardees will be selected by a committee composed of the Director of the Center for Service and Social Action and other JCU faculty, staff, and administrators.

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Demonstrated commitment to service and social action
  • Involvement in/dedication to a faith tradition and/or spirituality
  • Leadership ability/potential
  • Sophomore (having completed 25-54 hours and are in their third semester or more at JCU) or Junior (having completed 55-85 hours) in good academic standing
  • Letters of recommendation from two references

Application Timeline: 

  • Applications open on November 27, 2023
  • Applications are due on January 12, 2024

Application Requirements:

  • Complete an application form.
  • Provide two references who have knowledge of your service activities. Those references should be full-time JCU faculty or staff, or people who are familiar with your leadership role in a campus or community organization. Fellow students may NOT serve as references. Please distribute this reference form to these individuals and provide their information below. Please have letters sent directly to campionaward@jcu.edu.
  • Letters of support from agency-based service supervisors are appreciated, but not necessary. Please ask the supervisor to send the recommendation directly to campionaward@jcu.edu.

NOTE: The award is not intended to reduce existing institutional aid already awarded. However, if the student is a recipient of Federal funds, regulations may require John Carroll University to alter a student’s self-help aid such as loans or work-study. In rare cases, student aid may be limited to the total cost of education.

  • 2024 | Chase Hudock '25, and Serine Jaffal '26
  • 2023 | Selena Alamir '24, and Sydney Burger '25
  • 2022 | Jannat Ali '23, Vince Rizzo '23, Laken Kincaid '24 
  • 2021 | Caitlin Drake '22, and Kathryn (Katy) Zoller '23 
  • 2020 | Maguire Tausch ’21, Raymond (Ray) Flannery '22
  • 2019 | Elizabeth (Liz) Marcelli ’20, Jacob Fritsch '21
  • 2018 | Sean Freeman ’19, Maura Wallace ’20
  • 2017 | William M. DiPasquale ’18, Leanne Tang ’19
  • 2016 | Marina Giannirakis ’17, Robin Goist ’18
  • 2015 | Patrick Vecellio ’16, Annmarie Kirchner ’17
  • 2014 | Courtney Radtkin ’15, Katie Coffey ’15, Grace Donnelly ’16
  • 2013 | Alyssa Giannirakis ’14, Ned Barnes ’15, Michael Gong ’15
  • 2012 | McKenzae Bartels ’14, Maggie Hutchison ’14, Julia Blanchard ’14
  • 2011 | Catherine Distelrath ’12, Jeffrey Hatgas ’12, Jillian Dunn ’13
  • 2010 | Daniel Fitzmaurice ’11, Thomas Coast ’12
  • 2009 | Natalie Terry ’10, Kevin Henderson ’11
  • 1999 | Chris Kerr ’00, Trena Marks ’00, Patrick Corrigan ’01
  • 1998 | David Birchok ’99, Patrick Scanlan ’00, Brian Sinchak ’00
  • 1997 | Grant Mast ’98, Melanie Shakarian ’98, Julie Thorud ’99
  • 1996 | David Roth ’97, Penny Roxas ’98, Valerie Williams ’98

2024 Campion Award Winners

Chase Hudock '25

Chase Hudock Headshot

Chase Hudock ‘25 is a junior from Brecksville Ohio majoring in Biology.

Chase’s individual commitment to serving others is truly exceptional, reflecting a deep-rooted passion for uplifting human dignity and making a tangible difference in the lives of those facing adversity. From providing healthcare in remote villages in Honduras to mentoring incarcerated youth and volunteering in a hospital emergency department, Chase’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of compassion and resilience.

Chase demonstrates a strong commitment to service and social action through his involvement in significant activities such as the Carroll Ballers and the Honduras Immersion. While showcasing great leadership potential and a dynamic personality, he motivates and inspires others to get involved and engage wholeheartedly. 

Chase played a pivotal role in reigniting the Carroll Ballers Program, a student-led organization at JCU, demonstrating a forward-thinking and proactive approach to community engagement. The Carroll Ballers program is a unique service opportunity that combines the game of basketball with an original mentoring program for residents of the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center.  In all he does, Chase strives to serve with humility, work for justice with compassion, and persevere with hope.

 

Serine Jaffal '26

Serine Jaffal Headshot

Serine Jaffal ‘26 is a sophomore from North Olmsted, Ohio majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology. 

Serine’s journey towards making a difference in the world began with a simple desire to help others. From an early age, she harbored a profound understanding that lending a hand could take various forms – be it the life-saving efforts of a doctor or the guidance provided by a cashier teaching someone the intricacies of self-checkout. She used these experiences to explore the most impactful ways to contribute to the betterment of society.

Her time at John Carroll University has moved her far beyond her conventional understanding of volunteerism, to the importance of engaging in reflection, participating in community meetings, and listening deeply to a wide range of diverse peoples and experiences.  These unique aspects of service continue to shape the Serine into an individual with a deep understanding of intentional and meaningful community engagement. Armed with the knowledge gained from her experience at JCU, Serine aspires to become a physician committed to aiding the most vulnerable, whether on the US/Mexico border, in places like Honduras and Palestine, or among the women at Zelie's Home.

Serine’s experiences span diverse service initiatives, from Carroll Calculates to the Cleveland Clinic and Feed the Hungry. Each endeavor has imparted invaluable lessons – fostering collaboration with diverse groups, providing strength during vulnerable moments, and instilling the importance of leading while listening to the needs of others. These profound lessons will serve Serine well as a future physician, dedicated to improving the lives of those in need.