Tim Kummer, a College of Nursing senior, describes his humanitarian efforts simply as "what he likes to do." A recent recipient of the 2006 Howard R. Swearer Student Humanitarian Award, he was granted a $1,500 contribution toward the service program of his choice last month.

Kummer applied for the award in hopes of receiving money for the construction of a new library in Voi, Kenya, where he spent five weeks in the summer of 2004. Kummer was informed about the award in April and received it on Oct. 16.

Kummer's interest in traveling to Africa to help battle the continent's HIV/AIDS epidemic was sparked in high school by a TV special featuring U2 lead singer Bono's HIV/AIDS efforts, he said.

Kummer traveled to Kenya in 2004 with Conor Sweeney and Gregory St. Arnold, both seniors in the College of Arts & Sciences, to help with HIV/AIDS in any way possible.

According to Kummer, Voi had no reading materials outside of the kindergarten through eighth grade school. "There was no library and no way to get reading material," he said.

As a result, Kummer, Sweeney and St. Arnold decided they wanted to build a library in the town. According to Sweeney, the tentative deadline for the library's completion is May 2007.

The trip ignited his desire to further pursue service opportunities, Kummer said. After returning to Marquette, he changed his major to nursing so he could truly understand the pain and suffering of those he had served.

Their experiences in Kenya also led Kummer, Sweeney and St. Arnold to found the Marquette student organization Watumishi, which means "people of service" in Swahili.

"At the end of the trip, the people inspired us to continue what we started in the summer back at school," Sweeney said. "(Watumishi is) not just an awareness group, but also a way for students to channel their passions."

Watumishi works primarily on campus and in the surrounding Milwaukee area to promote HIV/AIDS education. Members also try to work in their home cities, Kummer said.

The organization is currently working to raise $25,000 for the construction of the library in Voi, Sweeney said.

According to St. Arnold, the library project is starting to gain a lot of momentum.

Kummer said he and several Watumishi members plan to travel to Voi this summer to help build the library.

In addition to his work with Watumishi, Kummer also participates in Noon Run, a program that serves meals to the homeless in Milwaukee seven days a week, and Hunger Clean-Up. Kummer plans to work in Africa or India for one to two years after he graduates. He eventually would like to work in Somalia, he said.

According to Kummer, the biggest challenges in humanitarian work are remaining humble when people glorify his work and reminding himself that every effort makes a difference.

"It's also hard to understand that the little work I do is going to help," he said.

To Kummer, the greatest reward from his humanitarian efforts is not only helping others, but himself as well.

"Selfishly, it helps me to understand who I am and what I stand for," he said. "But also, I try to help people get to the point where I am."