Jarett Merk

A political science major who helped develop policies and bylaws that will help future students was selected by the UNF Alumni Association as the Senior Service Award recipient for the fall semester.

While many people find working or going to school to be a full time job, Jarett Merk managed to do both while also keeping a full schedule of volunteer work at UNF and in the community.

Merk came to UNF in 2000 as a transfer student from Florida Community College at Jacksonville. He has a 3.9 grade point average and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He has been a full time employee with Discount Auto Parts since 1995 and at the age of 17 was the youngest person named to the management team.

In addition to his academic work and full time employment Merk has logged more than 1,000 hours in community service through food drives, mentoring area youth and serving as a senator in Student Government.

SG President Lindsay Hodges nominated Merk for the award for the work he did while a senator and as an active member of the budget and allocation committee. "The policies and procedures he is helping to establish will set the pace for many years to come," said Hodges. She also noted that as a member of Kappa Alpha Order, UNF's newest fraternity, Merk saw his opportunity to leave his mark on the chapter by completely revamping the chapter's bylaws to make it a more effective organization. "He is the student we strive to admit, foster and then graduate," said Hodges. "His footprints are all over UNF as he is the perfect role model for current and future students."

However, it is his experience of aiding refugees through the Lutheran Social Services Refugee Resettlement Program that he is most proud. Working with people from Bosnia, Afghanistan and other countries he has helped overcome language barriers by assisting refugees in gaining employment, obtaining driver's licenses, buying a car and making sure they receive medical treatment.

"I have taught them how they could become active in our democracy and community and they have taught me why it is important not to take our liberties for granted," said Merk. Merk has applied to law school in California, Florida and New York as well as graduate school in Tel-Aviv and Oxford. Until he decides which school to attend in the fall he's moved back to his hometown of Clearwater.