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Release: 01-326

Huntsville humanitarian student volunteers receive NASA Marshall award for mission to New York

It wasn’t solely the music itself, but the spirit of the musicians that moved many to tears when members of the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation — NAPS, headquartered in Huntsville, Ala. — marched through the streets of New York City Sept. 15.

And it was the group’s spirit that brought them to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville this past Wednesday to accept the Director’s Commendation — the Marshall Center’s highest award.

Center Director Art Stephenson said the members of NAPS serve as “a role model for the Huntsville community.”

The NAPS band, made up of primarily Oakwood College students, drove for 24 hours from Huntsville to New York, where they played patriotic songs and hymns to the appreciation of spontaneous neighborhood crowds.

National publications and news networks soon were lauding their efforts to soothe a troubled city.

NAPS is a non-profit, volunteer relief organization formed in 1978. For nearly a quarter century, the group has helped bring relief and ministered to thousands around the world and across the United States.

Tereasa Washington, director of Marshall’s Customer and Employee Relations Directorate, said NAPS members “brought a little bit of hope, inspiration and love to people who needed it. They have a mission, and that mission is to alleviate global suffering. How wonderful it is that these young people are doing this.”

During the award ceremony at Marshall, the NAPS band played “The Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful” and “Amazing Grace” — receiving a standing ovation.

Said Marshall Director Stephenson, in presenting the award: “It is our honor, and a privilege, to have you here. And I thank you.”

NAPS President Dr. Anthony Paul, chairman of the Oakwood College Department of Biological Sciences, accepted the award from Stephenson.

“We don’t feel like we are heroes of any type,” Paul said. “I feel very appreciative mainly for the students – that it will provoke them and influence others to do more good works for those in need.”

NAPS is planning another mission trip to New York City in November. For more information on the organization, visit their Web site at:

www.napsoc.org