April 10, 2009
Northeastern's Elumba Wins Humanitarian Award
CHN Staff Report
(photos: Paige Ozaroski)
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April 10, 2009
CHN Staff Report
(photos: Paige Ozaroski)
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Humanitarian Award recipient Missy Elumba
Hockey Humanitarian recipient Missy Elumba of Northeastern talks about her volunteer work and what it means to receive the award.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Northeastern senior Missy Elumba, a native of Cottage Grove, Minn., was named the 2009 recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award on Friday in a ceremony at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The Hockey Humanitarian Award is given to college hockey’s "finest citizen, and recognizes accomplishments of personal character, scholarship, and the giving of oneself off the ice to the larger community."
“I am blown away by being named to this award,” said Elumba. “I don’t even think I deserve it, but being recognized for this honor is merely a testament to the importance of putting others before yourself. That is a value I live my life by.”
Elumba is the 14th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award and joins Northeastern All-American Chanda Gunn, who won the award as a senior in 2004. Northeastern is the only school with two Hockey Humanitarian Award winners.
Elumba has been consistently involved in a number of volunteer, humanitarian, and philanthropic efforts throughout her five years at Northeastern. While in school, she volunteered her time and started significant initiatives that benefited Boston-area organizations. During her summer vacations, Elumba traveled around the country and the globe working in areas of great need. Elumba’s volunteer work is detailed below.
“We are very proud of Missy and all that she has achieved during her time at Northeastern,” said women’s hockey coach Dave Flint. “It is truly amazing how much time and effort she puts into her volunteer work while remaining committed to her academics and athletics. She is a caring and giving person that puts the needs of others ahead of her own. She is truly deserving of this award.”
Elumba was selected out of a pool of 21 nominees representing men’s and women’s programs from Divisions I, II and III. Elumba was one of five repeat nominees from 2008, joining Ryan Adler of Hobart, Ethan Cox of Colgate, Trevor Hyatt of Alaska-Fairbanks and Dagney Willey from the Minnesota. Elumba, Adler and Cox were finalists in 2008.
On the ice, Elumba helped Northeastern to a 12-20-3 record, its best since 2003-04. The Huskies qualified for the Hockey East playoffs for the first time since 2003-04. Elumba played in all 35 games for the Huskies, scoring four goals and adding three assists for seven points. She finished her career with 11 goals and 12 assists in 122 games.
Elumba did all this while maintaining a 3.5 grade-point-average in Health Science. Upon graduation, Elumba plans to continue her community service work before enrolling in medical school.
Over the past three summers, Elumba has traveled the United States and all over the world to volunteer her time and effort in some of the world’s areas of greatest need.
During the summer of 2008, Elumba traveled to Calcutta, India, where she served as a health care volunteer for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. During the summer of 2007, Elumba worked in the Centro de Salud & Hospital Civil in Oaxaca, Mexico, as a student health care volunteer through Child and Family Healthcare International. In August of 2006, Elumba volunteered as a construction team leader for United Baptist Katrina Relief in Gulfport, Miss. She helped in organizing and fundraising, and directed a team of her peers in reconstructing homes and delivering food and bottled water to local residents.
Elumba has used her time at Northeastern and her role as a student-athlete to encourage the Northeastern community to share in her philanthropic endeavors. Elumba has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for five years, including two as president. Elumba helped start the “Husky Wish Gift” program, a student-run, virtual foundation. Through several fundraisers and matching CAA SAAC funding, the program helped raise over $5,000 for Boston-area schools, teams, and community organizations dedicated to increasing opportunities for youth to play sports.
During her time at Northeastern, Elumba ventured outside the Northeastern campus to provide extensive help to individuals and communities in the greater Boston area.
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