As Assistant Director for the Community Service-Learning Alternative Break Program over the last four years, Josh Shulruff has impacted dozens of people. This can be seen just from the 19 letters, emails, and notes nominating Josh for the All Together One award. For those unfamiliar to the Alternative Break Program, it consists of student-planned and student-led trips for the purpose of making an impact in deserving communities, such as rebuilding homes or tutoring under-priveleged students. The student leaders must be trained and taught on important issues such as preparation, social justice, equity, humility, accountability, and reflection in order to lead these breaks. To instill these messages and lessons into the student leaders, Josh, the training facilitator for these student leaders, must embody those same values. The success of these Alternative Break Programs rely on the vital training that Josh provides. Personally, I have only heard of good things out of these programs, which speaks to the prowess of Josh and the care he takes to ensure his student leaders are prepared. 

As of October 2020, Josh has volunteered to take up an additional, important, responsibility within JMU’s residential student essential surveillance testing for COVID-19, which is imperative for keeping this community safe. To quote the coordinator of the surveillance team, “[Josh’s] influence and impact has helped lead the team to success… I do not know if we could have been successful without Josh’s contributions…  He never asks for praise or recognition for the many hours spent each week doing this work. He does it because he wanted to make an impact and contribute during difficult times”. Josh’s work on the surveillance team has been important in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus on campus, as well as potentially saving lives. 

Josh also serves as a Chair within the Student Affairs Social Justice and Inclusion Council and as a Chair on the working group for a new Social Justice and Inclusion initiative. He brings the same attitudes and values from his other involvements to make a difference in an all-too important topic of social justice. To quote Josh’s fellow council member of the Social Justice and Inclusion Council, “When the problem is solved, often from Josh’s suggestion, he doesn’t take credit. [Instead, he] shifts credit to [a fellow] team member and lifts them up”. There are numerous quotes, such as the previous, which consistently showcase Josh’s humility and desire to propel others to success. Regardless of which role Josh is in, he constantly displays the same behaviors that lead a team to success.  

Josh has devoted his time and energy into meaningful causes: from training students to be leaders in their own meaningful endeavors, to taking up an invaluable role within the surveillance testing program, to speaking on social justice issues. Through his actions and attitudes with everyone he encounters and within the roles that he takes up, Josh embodies the values of humility, empathy, commitment, inclusivity, and empowerment. The excellent work that Josh is doing is imperative to the well-being of this community, yet his work is out of the limelight. There is no doubt that Josh is well-deserving of praise, regardless of how often he might shy away from the spotlight. We hope that this award can be a small thanks for all the selfless work you have done that has impacted and bettered the JMU community and beyond.