ACE Celebrates First Rutgers Volunteer Service Award Recipients
The Division of Access & Community Engagement (RU-New Brunswick) recognized its inaugural class of Rutgers Volunteer Service Award (RVSA) recipients at a breakfast ceremony on September 30, celebrating students and organizations whose commitment to community engagement has made a meaningful impact across New Jersey.
Launched in March 2026 through the Collaborative Center for Community Engagement, the Rutgers Volunteer Service Awards honor students, faculty, staff, alumni, student organizations, and university programs for their dedication to serving communities. The September event recognized award recipients from the 2025-2026 academic year, with student honorees receiving certificates in recognition of their contributions through volunteerism and community engagement. Student organizations and campus programs were also celebrated for their collective service efforts.
To qualify for the RVSA, students completed at least 100 verified hours of community engagement through the RCommunity platform between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. More than 150 students met the service-hour requirement, and 67 students completed the application process to receive the award. Among them, 15 earned Gold-level recognition for completing 250 or more verified hours, with 17 earning Silver-level recognition and 35 receiving Bronze-level recognition.
The ceremony also highlighted the achievements of student organizations and programs. Twenty-seven organizations and programs qualified for recognition, including 11 Gold-level, 9 Silver-level, and 7 Bronze-level recipients.
Collectively, RVSA recipients recognized at the breakfast contributed an impressive 13,784 verified hours of community engagement during the academic year (an estimated volunteer service value of more than $531,000). Their efforts reflected a wide range of community-focused work, demonstrating the many ways Rutgers students and organizations give back through service, advocacy, mentorship, education, and outreach.
Kaitlyn Adkins, Naima Joseph, and O'Marly Milfort were surprised with a moment of special recognition when they were honored as students with the highest number of verified volunteer hours outside of community engagement coursework. Together, the three students completed 1,846.75 hours of verified service with an estimated volunteer value of more than $71,000. In recognition of their achievements, donations were made in their names to community organizations of their choice: The Urban Health Collaborative, Tiny Tots Spot, and the Community Foodbank.
The RVSA highlights the importance of community engagement as a core part of the Rutgers experience. As a program open to all members of the Rutgers-New Brunswick community, the awards showcase the positive impact that Rutgers students, faculty, staff, alumni, and organizations have on New Jersey communities.
Those interested in getting involved can explore opportunities through the RCommunity platform, where students, faculty, and staff can find volunteer opportunities and track their engagement hours. Community engagement can take many forms, from participating in campus-sponsored events to volunteering independently with local organizations. As the first year of the Rutgers Volunteer Service Awards comes to a close, the program has already highlighted the remarkable commitment of volunteers across the university and established a new tradition of recognizing service as a meaningful part of the Rutgers mission.