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Hispanic Heritage Committee Cites Vassar AdministratorJennifer Rubbo Receives Community Service Award

The manager of The Environmental Cooperative at the Vassar Barns has been recognized by a local Hispanic organization for the college’s collaboration with the group over the past three years.

Jennifer Rubbo, Manager of the Environmental Cooperative for Strategic Planning and Academic Resources, was one of seven recipients of Community Service Awards presented Nov. 10 by the Poughkeepsie-based Hispanic Heritage Committee. Rubbo received the award at a luncheon at the Alumnae/i House.

Jennifer Rubbo, Manager of the Environmental Cooperative for Strategic Planning and Academic Resources

For the past three summers, Vassar students and post-baccalaureate fellows have taken part in the Hispanic Heritage Committee’s Unity and Hope program, which provides a variety of activities for local families each summer. Under Rubbo’s guidance, the Vassar students and post-bacs developed and implemented environmental education activities for the summer camp.

Rubbo said she was honored to receive the award on behalf of her Vassar colleagues, and she praised Hispanic Heritage Committee Director Norma Vizcarrondo for her work in the community. “I met Norma three years ago at a meeting about an Earth Day event in Poughkeepsie,” Rubbo said. “She mentioned her Unity and Hope program, and I asked her if she needed any help from my students. We’ve helped her on several other projects since then.

“Norma focuses on the Hispanic community, but she is very inclusive and helps the entire Poughkeepsie community in many ways,” Rubbo continued. “Having our students and others at the college become involved with this organization has fit right in with our values here at Vassar.”