Carl Sandburg College’s Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion, Anthony Law, was presented with the Verne W. Dowers Exemplary Service Award by the Noon Rotary Club of Galesburg last week.
Law serves as the advisor for several student organizations, most notably the Men of Distinction, Women of Character, but also the Hispanic-Latino Student Association and the Black Student Association.
“I am truly honored beyond measure. I know what Rotary stands for, and I know the commitment that the people in this room have made toward our community,” Law said upon accepting the award.
He is heavily involved in the community in dozens of different volunteer efforts and over the last year, he participated in:
- Participating in the annual Walk to Fight Suicide in support of National Suicide Prevention Week, raising $305.
- A day of service that included stocking local Blessing Boxes with food and hygiene products as well as cleaning up South Lake Storey Road in Galesburg.
- Partnering with the Knox County Housing Authority for a voter registration drive.
- Partnering with a private donor for a Hispanic-Latino heritage essay contest for HLSA students with cash prizes totaling $500.
- Taking part in and co-sponsoring several drive-up coat, glove, and hot-meal giveaways.
- Participating in the Galesburg Salvation Army’s “Ring the Bell” fundraising campaign.
- Writing and delivering more than 300 Christmas cards that were distributed to local nursing homes.
- Collecting toys and games that were then donated to Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center.
- Bagging 1,000 meals on multiple occasions for the United Way of Knox County’s supper program.
- Co-sponsoring an MLK Day of Service chili giveaway with Allen Chapel AME Church.
- Distributing books to “Little Libraries” throughout the community.
- Hosting an online daily celebration for Black History Month through Sandburg’s Black Student Association.
- Distributing 275 wellness bags to Lombard Middle School students through a partnership with the Kleine Pediatric Wellness Program.
- Making and distributing 80 Valentine’s Day gift bags for Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center.
- Participating in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Reading Program.
- Assisting the United Way of Knox County with moving its offices to its new location.
- Taking part in spring break cleanup days by cleaning Kiwanis Park, H.T. Custer Park, Lincoln Park, and Bursie Williams Park in Galesburg.
- Volunteering at Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank’s 1 millionth contribution event.
- Began a #PositiveGalesburg campaign to celebrate the positive influences on the community by local business owners and businesses, including La Cantinita, Judy’s Café, Tres Café, and Glory Days Corner Barber Shop.
“The only thing I would do different is I would take my name off and I’d put every one of my students’ names on there,” Law added. “Their commitment to being — as I always challenge them — the best they can be, to take pride in their community, take pride in themselves, and to leave an impact and a legacy is what has afforded them the opportunity to do what they do.”
He received the award on Thursday.
