Fasnacht receives leadership award
Campus Times
October 23, 1998
Little gifts, toys and more beanie babies than one could wish for are
among the merchandise offered in the Hillcrest Retirement Community Gift
Shop.
Ruth Fasnacht, a member of the quiet, peaceful community, works in the
shop. However, selling Beanie Babies is not all Fasnacht does. She has been
an active member of the University of La Verne community since the 1940s.
On Sept. 16, ULV presented its Sixth Annual Christian Leadership Award
to Fasnacht at its annual Summer Service Dinner. She received the award
for her years of support to the University, particularly within the Summer
Service Program.
The program is an opportunity for students to help people and to work
in a different environment, such as retirement communities, day care facilities,
youth camps and churches outside of La Verne.
"Ruth Fasnacht exemplifies the values of the University of La Verne,
particularly service," said Dr. Stephen Morgan, president of ULV.
Don Flora, director of church relations said, "One of her great
traits [is] she is very interested in what young people are doing to make
a difference in the life of the University; she's very interested in what
young people are doing to make a difference in the communities which they
work in through Summer Service."
Despite all the praise, Fasnacht remains humble about her achievements.
Taking a break from her work at the gift shop, she admitted that she was
surprised to get the award.
"I couldn't believe that I would get it," she said. "I've
been at almost every event that they've had where this was awarded. I didn't
dream that I would ever get it, and I didn't see any reason why I would,"
she said.
"Except that I was one of those who, in the early times when it
[the Summer Service Program] started, thought it was a great idea and appreciated
the value the students would get from this experience," Fasnacht added.
Indeed, Fasnacht has seen the beginning of the program. Widow of Dr.
Harold Fasnacht, president of the University from 19481968, she witnessed
the establishment of the program under Dr. Fasnacht's leadership in 1957.
Fasnacht supports ULV students before they go to Summer Service and
sees them when they come back.
"From talking to students when they come back-to see their feelings
about it,-it makes me real proud to be a part of it. I just hope that they
can retain some of the good experiences that they've had to let them develop
in some way that they can give further experience to some one else,"
Fasnacht said.
"I wish I could have done it when I was in college, but they weren't
doing that kind of thing back then," she smiled.
