Missy Elumba accepts the Hockey Humanitarian Award from Humanitarian Foundation Member Dan Ronan at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Josh Gibney)

Elumba wins Hockey Humanitarian Award
April 10, 2009
Verizon Center (Washington, D.C.)

Northeastern University senior Missy Elumba, of Cottage Grove, Minn., was named the 2009 recipient of the BNY Mellon Wealth Management 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.

• Elumba Video

"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 Husky 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 as the 14th recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award 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 College, Ethan Cox of Colgate University, Trevor Hyatt of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and Dagney Willey from the University of 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.

SUMMER VOLUNTEER WORK
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.
•Calcutta, India: 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, the same missionary organization that Mother started. Elumba worked with handicapped and mentally disabled patients at the Prem Dan care site, helping provide acute wound care and documenting disease progression and providing prayer and music therapy for the patients. At the Khalighat care site, she worked with women suffering from debilitating and life-threatening injuries and illnesses, serving food and medications as well as therapy, conversation and prayer.
•Oaxaca, Mexico: 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. She worked closely with physicians to deliver primary care – including cervical cancer tests, mammograms and vaccinations – to local residents. She ran public health campaigns in isolated communities, experiencing cross-cultural medicine while learning Spanish. Elumba also volunteered at the Casa Hogar orphanage in Oaxaca through the Foundation for His Ministry. She provided care and basic needs for five mentally disabled children, teaching basic communication skills, self care skills, and helping to improve gross motor skills, coordination and cognitive thinking.
•Gulfport, Mississippi: 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.

ON CAMPUS VOLUNTEER WORK
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.
•Student-Athlete Advisory Committee: Elumba has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for five years, including two as president. The committee strives to reinforce the Northeastern Athletics Department's ideals of Classroom Success, Community Involvement and Competitive Excellence. Elumba facilitated the execution of SAAC's annual Student-Athlete Date Auction to raise money for the Special Olympics, and started a holiday toy drive for charity, which is in its second year. She also recently helped start the "Husky Wish Gift" program.
•Husky Wish Gift: Through the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, 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. Through the Husky Wish Gift program, athletes learn how to give strategically and develop leadership skills while directly making a difference for kids who would otherwise not have a chance to play sports. The first-annual recipients have been selected and will be announced next week.
•Students4Giving: Elumba spearheaded the creation of Northeastern Students4Giving, an on-campus group focused on teaching Northeastern students how to be philanthropic. She helped the group secure University recognition and backing, and oversaw the successful distribution of a $15,000 donor advised fund from Fidelity Charitable Gift Funds and Campus Compact. These grants are used to benefit the local Fenway, South End, Roxbury and Mission Hill neighborhoods. This year's funding priority was youth violence. Three organizations were recipients of these grants ranging from $2,500-$3000. She is currently involved in fundraising efforts to replenish this fund to keep the learning and giving process going year after year.

BOSTON LOCAL VOLUNTEER WORK
During her time at Northeastern, Elumba ventured outside the Northeastern campus to provide extensive help to individuals and communities in the greater Boston area.
•Strong Women, Strong Girls: Since October 2008, Elumba has volunteered with Strong Women, Strong Girls, a non-profit dedicated to the personal development of young women. She helped write a grant and secure funding for the organization.
•Moms and More: Since October 2008, Elumba has volunteered at Moms and More, a substance abuse program for Latino and African American mothers. Elumba has helped with coordination of other volunteers and ran a holiday toy drive to benefit the women's families.
•Boston Medical Center Grow Clinic: From January through July of 2008, Elumba worked full time as a program assistant at the Boston Medical Center Grow Clinic, where she assisted with patient home visits and public relations work, managed donations, planned child activities and improved patient compliance through building professional and trusting relationships with the patients and their families.
•Boston Healthcare for the Homeless: From January through May of 2007, Elumba worked as activities coordinator for Barbara McInnis House, a respite care clinic, through the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program. While patients healed of serious injuries, illnesses, and procedures before returning to the streets, Elumba organized and coordinated activities that kept their mind off the pain such as open mic nights, arts and crafts, and card tournaments.
•Ecclesia Ministries Pastoral Care: From January 2007 through July 2008, Elumba transitioned from the activities coordinator to pastoral care at the Barbara McInnis House. She performed worship services, provided prayer and spiritual counseling, and organized Bible studies and prayer meetings for Ecclesia Ministries.
•South End Settlements: From January through May of 2006, Elumba worked as a preschool assistant teacher with South End Settlements near the NU campus, working with four- and five-year old inner-city children. Elumba led exercises and stretching techniques and helped facilitate daily activities by assisting children in performing tasks such as cleaning and preparing tables, and using proper manners.