Chow and Bernson
Two from the LFM '04 class receive annual peer award
By Monica Nakamine
May 19, 2003
Jim Chow and Michelle Bernson, LFM '04s, received the 4th Annual Charles Harrison Smith III Memorial Award, named after the LFM '99 student who died in a car crash days after he graduated from the LFM program. Smith was on his way to his new job at Dell Computer Corporation in Austin, Texas when the accident occurred.
From left to right, standing: Charles Smith (Harrison's father), Rob Mosher (LFM '99), Don Rosenfield, David Stagney (LFM '03), Micah Samuels (LFM '02), Sandra Smith (Harrison's mother), and Sandy Story (Harrison's sister). Seated: Michelle Bernson and Jim Chow.
Presented to Chow and Bernson on May 6, 2003, the award was conceived by Smith's LFM classmates as a way to remember the unique qualities that Smith brought to his fellow students, as well as to the LFM program. Each class has the opportunity to recognize the LFM student or, in this case, students -- who they feel most improved the LFM experience for them, both within and outside of the program.
Along with a monetary gift, Chow and Bernson each received a plaque, presented by Rob Mosher, LFM '99, one of Smith's good friends and fellow classmates.
"As Rob described the attributes of Harrison, I looked around the room at all the wonderful people in our program," said Michelle. "I saw different attributes of Harrison in each of my classmates: the canoe-trip organizer, the surfer, the plant tour coordinator, the volunteer, the social activities director. It is an honor to think that Jim and I are recognized as people who best capture Harrison's spirit."
Said Jim Chow, "I am very touched to receive this award. To be selected by such an amazing group of my peers is truly an honor. Because LFM has impacted my life in so many positive ways, this will be an award that I will cherish forever. And I am so happy to share it with Michelle, who definitely deserves recognition for the countless wonderful things that she does, yet is so humble about."
Don Rosenfield, director of the LFM Fellows Program, said, "Both Jim and Michelle deserve this award because they have both made significant contributions to LFM and reflect the spirit of LFM as Harrison did. They have shown care and dedication to their classmates and to the program, have helped to make LFM a better place, and are friends to every one of their classmates."
Smith's parents, Sandra and Charles, and sister, Sandy Story, were in attendance, as was previous award recipients Micah Samuels, LFM '02, and David Stagney, LFM '03.