<p>Annapolis, Md. (NNS) – The U.S. Naval Academy recognized 15 midshipmen for significant achievements in community service in a ceremony held May 22.</p>
<p>Fourteen midshipmen received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and one received the Navy League Community Service Award. </p>
<p>The midshipmen’s achievements represented the service of the Midshipman Action Group (MAG), a midshipmen-run volunteer organization. During the 2006-2007 academic year, MAG was responsible for planning and coordinating more than 20,000 hours of community service programs and projects.</p>
<p>“Even while juggling demanding academics, military training, athletics, and other extracurricular commitments, an extraordinary group of midshipmen still choose to dedicate much of their precious free time to community service,” said Lt. Anne Marks, the Academy’s officer representative for MAG.</p>
<p>MAG projects include tutoring local school children, building affordable housing, protecting natural resources, and volunteering at local hospitals – to name a few.Members of the Class of 2007, who will be commissioned as Navy ensigns or Marine 2nd lieutenants on May 25, also launched a major community service initiative in coordination with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore this year.</p>
<p>More than 100 midshipmen, students, educators and community activists from 10 colleges and universities and 20 nonprofit organizations participated in the Mid-Atlantic Volunteer Conference.</p>
<p>“For the [Class of 2007], these ceremonies were the culmination of all the efforts we’ve put into serving the community,” said Midshipman 1st Class Dan Misch, this year’s MAG president and one of the recipients of the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. “It’s nice to be recognized, and we really appreciate it. I think [this ribbon will] always be special to me, reminding me of all the work we’ve done and the people I’ve met.”</p>
<p>To receive the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, a member’s service must be related to the civilian community; include the military family community; be significant in nature and produce tangible results; reflect favorably on the military service and the Department of Defense; and be of a sustained and direct nature.</p>
<p>MAG has been involved in more than 20 community service projects, ranging from the Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity in the local area, to volunteering their holiday breaks to help rebuild New Orleans’ 9th Ward. Of the 30 companies within the Brigade of Midshipmen, most have adopted local schools as part of the Academy’s “Mids for Kids” program.</p>
<p>[Volunteer</a> Award Ceremony Photo Slideshow](<a href=“http://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=2515&srcid=2520"]Volunteer”>http://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=2515&srcid=2520)</p>
<p>Copyright 2007 Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc.
Defense Department Documents and Publications
May 22, 2007</p>