Aaron Raphel, LFM '05, Wins Charles "Harrison" Smith III Award
By Lois Slavin
May 24, 2004
On May 10, 2004, the fifth annual Charles "Harrison" Smith III Award was presented to Aaron Raphel, LFM '05. The award, established in the memory of the LFM '99 alum, is given to a first-year LFM student who has been voted by his/her peers to have contributed most significantly to his/her LFM class, in the same spirit as Harrison. The ceremony was attended by Harrison's parents, sister, and nephew.
(Rear -- left to right) Michah Samuels, LFM '02; Rob Moser, LFM '99; Don Rosenfield, Director, LFM Fellows Program; Sandra and Charles Smith; George and Sandy Story
(Front -- left to right) Michelle Bernson, LFM '04; Aaron Raphel, LFM '05; Jim Chow, LFM '04
Rob Mosher, a classmate of Harrison’s who helped establish the memorial award, noted “It’s an honor to be able to return to this event, to pass on to you some memories of Harrison, and to share what he meant to me, his classmates, and to LFM.”
Mosher noted some of the comments made by Raphel’s peers in nominating him for the Smith Award, including “He has more energy than the rest of the class put together; his undying enthusiasm keeps LFMs connected to one another and the rest of the campus; he is selfless and devoted to LFM; he was heavily involved in the LFM volunteer day; he coordinated many socials and get-togethers; and the LFM 05 class would be a very different class without Aaron.”
After the presentation, Aaron Raphel shared his thoughts. “Receiving the Harrison Smith Award is an incredible honor. I owe this to the LFM Program, which provides an amazing environment for student initiative, and primarily to the LFM Class of 2005. Like Harrison, I am constantly motivated by the enthusiasm of my classmates and sincerely appreciate their recognition,” said Raphel.
Smith’s parents, Sandra and Charles, sister, Sandy Story, and nephew George Story were in attendance, as were previous award recipients Micah Samuels, LFM ’02 and Michelle Bernson and Jim Chow, LFM ’04. Other recipients of the award include Terrence Emmert, LFM ’01, and David Stagney, LFM ’03.
Don Rosenfield, Director of the LFM Fellows Program, noted “It’s great to see how Harrison's name is being honored. Aaron, like Harrison, truly reflects the essence of LFM, and I am proud that we can offer this award.”