Two NIU students won Spirit Awards given by General Motors for their achievements in voluntary service.

Susan Kirk, Chicago, and Thomas Zur, Glen Ellyn, were the first recipients of this award.

Kirk submitted her application last fall. She said she was amazed and surprised when she was told she won the award. “I couldn’t believe I was chosen. I thought there were more people that were (more) curricularly involved.”

Some of the voluntary programs in which Kirk was involved in were being an NI guide, secretary of Douglas Hall Council and a member of the NIU judicial hearing board. She presently is the president of Douglas Hall Council. She received a reference letter from Residence Hall Association President Willie Fowler.

Zur filled out his application the first week of February and received notification of the award from the Office of Campus Recreation Feb. 21. He said he was very excited to find out he had won the award. “It was a great honor for me and it was something I didn’t expect.”

Some voluntary activities Zur has been involved in are InterFraternity Council president for two years, undergraduate greek adviser and Student Association senator. He is presently the president of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

The GM Spirit Award includes six criteria to become a recipient, including volunteer work on- and off-campus, self-growth through volunteer service, quality of work, and benefit to the GM club, college and community.

Fabian De Rozario, the NIU GM College Program Coordinator in the Office of Campus Recreation, said Kirk and Zur were chosen by an independent committee of NIU students, staff and faculty. The committee consisted of eight members representing different factions of the university, such as the Office of Student Affairs and the SA.

The program has three deadline dates so students have enough time to prepare their applications, De Rozario said. One student is chosen after each deadline date and the rest of the names are considered for the next award. Between deadlines, new people may apply. About 15 people have applied this year, he said.

De Rozario said students can pick up applications at the Campus Recreation office. All applicants may nominate themselves or be nominated by groups or organizations for which they have volunteered.

“They have to make (fill out) the application themselves, but they can certainly supply it with as many support materials as possible,” he said. Support materials can include resumes and/or reference letters.

The GM Spirit Award began at NIU last fall to recognize students with outstanding voluntary service. Two other programs sponsored by GM are intramural recreational sports and a GM/GMAC vehicle exposition.