UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Jake Benesh, a 2010 UW-River Falls (UWRF) graduate, led the 2010 Atlanta, Georgia, Destination trip. He and 9 other UWRF students and faculty helped with the Atlanta disaster relief efforts following the floods of September 2009.
After graduation, Jake spent his summer doing what he loved; working with the Washington County 4-H, fixing motorcycles,traveling on a youth mission trip to Jamaica, and planning for his fall backpacking trip through Europe. He was well-known for doing funny and sometimes weird things just to make someone laugh.
On August 6, 2010, Jake was killed in a motorcycle accident en route to a 4-H Arts-In performance. In every joke he made, action he took, or thumbs up he gave, Jake lived his live in the service of others.
To honor Jake and his commitment to service, the UWRF Destination groups choose a community member to receive the Jake Benesh Outstanding Service Award based on the following criteria.