RELEASED: June 19, 2003

DANVILLE, KY-Centre senior Neil Parrish has been named May Volunteer of the Month for his participation in Repair Affair, a program sponsored by C.A.R.E. (Centre Action Reaches Everyone), which assists area residents by making home repairs.

Repair Affair is a joint effort between volunteers from the community and the college, but this year the date for the event fell during spring break for the Danville and Boyle County school systems, so volunteers were in short supply.

Despite this, Parrish tripled the number of volunteers from the previous year, said Trina McFarland, Centre's director of volunteer services.

"He has a nice way of making people feel appreciated and that their efforts really count," McFarland said.

Parrish, a Louisville native, said, "It's just another example of how Centre allows its students the opportunity to grow in all areas of life. I think by taking such an active role in the community-focused service project, Centre students are able to give back to Danville and Boyle County in a unique and special way."

In addition to his volunteer work, Parrish is also a John C. Young Scholar. This program offers outstanding seniors an opportunity to engage in independent work, guided by faculty mentors, in their major discipline or in an interdisciplinary area of their choosing. Parrish presented the results of his collaborative research with Professor Mark Rasmussen on May 11. The topic of his research, which will be published, was "Sir Gareth of Orkney: The Key to Arthur’s Kingdom."

The volunteer award program at Centre recognizes some of the many students who provide service to the local community. Each year, around 60 percent of all Centre College students become community volunteers. The college encourages volunteer service with a community service day each year as part of the orientation for first-year students. For more information, contact Trina McFarland, assistant director of student life for service and leadership development, at (859) 238-5479 or e-mail mcfarlnd@centre.edu.

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