Maj. Laura Suzuki, an assistant professor of mathematics at the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management, was named the 2006 American Red Cross, Dayton Area Chapter, Rookie Volunteer of the Year at a luncheon held on March 27.

Volunteering with other AFIT personnel after Hurricane Katrina, Suzuki developed an automation tool to better track employer-matched contributions.  She also developed a program for recording Ohio Training Institute student registrations and lodging assignments.  According to the awards program, “Each year, the Chapter uses its Annual Meeting as an opportunity to salute these local heroes, volunteers without whom we could not achieve our mission.  Laura is responsible for implementing automation to meet the needs of our customers and clients.”

The annual selection of the American Red Cross Dayton Area Chapter Volunteers of the Year is based upon representation of the organization and its five key commitments: commitment to customers, commitment to organization, commitment to people, commitment to self, and commitment to task.

Says Suzuki, “I enjoy using the skills I have developed in the United States Air Force to help the community.”