Creative Writing Awards Winner - 2010
Class 0f 2011
Yale University School of Nursing student Christina Yon ‘11 was presented the 2010 YSN Community Service Award. The award was presented before the annual Sybil Palmer Bellos Lecture. YSN Dean Margaret Grey presented Yon with the award and read the official Community Service Award Citation:
Despite a heavy academic workload in the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing program, this student has contributed a great deal to the Yale University, and New Haven communities. Not only did she serve as co-director of the HAVEN Free Clinic, a student-run clinic that provides primary health care to the uninsured, but she also served as an interpreter and has contributed countless hours for the clinic each week.
She was co-founder of PATCH (Positive Action Through Community Health), and co-organizer of the Healthy Neighbors Program, a partnership between the Church Street South Community and YSN that coordinates health fairs, tutoring and educational activities for residents. A leader of Yale Health CORE (Community Outreach and Education), she helped organize service trips to El Salvador over spring break, in conjunction with the School of Public Health.
As a member of RHEA (Reproductive Health Education and Advocacy), she co-authored a Train-the-Trainer Manual on pregnancy and beyond for New Haven’s Healthy Start program and organized YSN facilitation at Polly T. McCabe Center, school for pregnant teens. She is also an active member of the Student Diversity and Action Committee at YSN and has participated in the Nurturing Families Parenting Group for young parents and DESK, the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen run by YSN Students.
Before coming to Yale, she volunteered with women and children in California, Mexico and Thailand, working with local groups providing HIV education, awareness and testing as well as access to health care and support. She is set apart from others in that she is not only involved in the community, but she is able to persuade others to become involved as well.
The following statement was made in support of her nomination for this award:
“She has a passion for community service that benefits all around her – her classmates, the people of New Haven, and YSN. She has made a lasting impact that I am sure will be remembered for years to come.”
For her compassion, deep commitment and significant contributions to her community, the Yale University School of Nursing is proud to present the 2010 Community Service Award to Christina Yon.