2008: News: Jones

WFU senior Jordan Jones to receive Christman Award for community service

Posted May 14, 2008

The Christman Award, named in honor of Chaplain Emeritus Ed Christman at Wake Forest University, will be awarded to senior Jordan Jones during the College Honors and Awards Ceremony at 2 p.m. May 18 in Brendle Recital Hall at the Scales Fine Arts Center.

“Throughout his career, Chaplain Christman was passionate about his efforts to involve Wake Forest students in service,” said Brighid Jensen, coordinator of volunteer services at Wake Forest.  Jenson said the award was established as a tribute to Christman’s work in promoting Wake Forest’s motto, Pro Humanitate (“For Humanity”).  Recipients are chosen based on their dedication to community service during their years at Wake Forest.

Jones, a business major from Fayetteville, will be the sixth recipient of the award.  He will split the $500 award evenly with Samaritan Ministries.  His name will be added to the permanent plaque on display in the Benson University Center listing all the past recipients.

“Jones has done outstanding work with the homeless population in Winston-Salem,” Jensen said.  In February 2007, he helped establish a lunch and conversation program serving 10-15 homeless people in downtown Winston-Salem.  Jones said his goal was to “establish relationships and learn how we could better serve them.”  The program has grown to include a group of 10-15 Wake Forest students who serve 100-150 people on a weekly basis.

Jones organized a camp-out protest in downtown Winston-Salem last fall when the Emergency Winter Overflow Shelter at First Baptist Church announced that it would not open due to building code restrictions.  The camp-out lasted longer than a month, and more than 50 students from local colleges endured bitter cold temperatures to join the protest.  Their effort made a difference, and when the shelter finally opened its doors, Jones continued to help by coordinating volunteers and driving the homeless to and from the shelter.

After graduation, Jones will continue his humanitarian work as a counselor with the Good Work Network in New Orleans, helping low-income minority entrepreneurs start business ventures.