Deleana Hill, IT specialist in the School of Nursing,  received a ROSE Award for her volunteer efforts. Photo courtesy of Deleana Hill

By Rebecca Wyatt Thomas, OU Web Writer

Deleana Hill, IT specialist in the School of Nursing, got involved with volunteering with the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau because she liked to see the smiles on the faces of those she helped. However, it was Hill who was beaming when she received a ROSE Award for her volunteer efforts.

“I was at an event in Detroit and I saw the volunteers. I had no idea how they got the chance to volunteer so I asked and they sent me straight down to the volunteer booth. I learned more and started doing it myself. I had so much fun. I got to meet people from around the country. It was a very rewarding experience for me,” Hill said.

Hill has volunteered for events hosted by the Parade Company, the Winter Blast, the Super Bowl Experience, the College for Creative Studies wine auction, the Comerica Tastefest and she is a mentor for the Student Mentor Partners organization.

“I am from the city, born and raised. I see volunteering as a way to give back to my city. When I was growing up, I always had people helping me. Since I had that hand that cradled me, why not carry it on,” Hill said.

Hill found out she was nominated for a ROSE, or Recognition of Service Excellence, Award by someone at the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau who worked with her at the Detroit Winter Blast. Voting continues online for 30 days. No person can vote from one computer more than once. The open voting was calculated with any comments that were left and the judge’s remarks to determine a winner in each of seven categories.

“A lot of the people who were nominated are in the service industry and have a lot of experience and received nominations from their supervisors. I’m just a regular person who volunteers at events,” Hill said. “I didn’t think I would win.”

But when the envelope was opened at the ROSE Awards in July, it was Hill’s name that was called for the volunteer service category.

Hill started volunteering 14 years ago. She was a member of AmeriCorps the first year it was instituted by President Bill Clinton’s administration. After graduating from college, Hill was looking for a way to pay off her student loans.

Hill went to Denver, Colo. and lived in the residence halls of an old Navy Air Force Base. Every day for two years she performed service activities like walking a police beat to help stop gang activities, working in state forest parks and helping in schools.

That spirit to help others carried on.

“I might have one too many T-shirts from all the events I have volunteered for, but it’s so much fun and I have gained so many friendships and had so many networking opportunities,” Hill said.

As a volunteer, Hill has worked to recruit others, but her primary goal is to get her best friend involved.

“I think some people see volunteering as work. It’s nothing like work. It’s taking the things you enjoy about your job to the next level,” Hill said. “The older I get, the more responsibilities I want to take on as far as volunteering. I would like to be a project manager or team leader for a new volunteer opportunity and oversee the volunteer project from start to finish. No matter what, I plan to continue volunteering at the city and state level.”