Wall Service Award 2014 Winners

Laura Ruth Johnson '92

Laura Ruth Johnson, a 1992 graduate who lives in Chicago. Johnson will use her $25,000 Wall Service Award to support Proyecto Atabey, a project she founded to provide mentorship and support to young Latina and African-American mothers in Humboldt Park, Ill. This intergenerational mentoring project will take place at an alternative high school serving young people aged 16-21. Through Projecto Atabey, mothers in the community who were themselves teen parents will offer presentations sharing their experiences and advice. The project will also provide mentoring, activities and workshops designed to help participants finish high school, become more independent, and achieve educational, professional and personal success.

Scott R. Porter '80

Scott R. Porter, a 1980 graduate who now lives in Orlando, Fla. Porter will use his $25,000 Wall Award to expand two complementary programs that he leads in Orlando, Fla., to help disabled athletes access adaptive sports equipment.  Through the first program, Porter and other challenged athletes operate adaptive sports clinics that help recently disabled athletes discover and become active in new sports activities.  The second project will add five handcycles to an equipment-lending program that allows challenged athletes to experiment with equipment before applying for funding to purchase their own handcycles.  Together, the two programs help newly disabled individuals select and acquire adaptive sports equipment that leads to a higher quality of life, a sense of accomplishment, and the possibility of hope after accidents and loss.

Learn more about the Wall Service Award and see other previous winners.