Otterbein College senior Breanna Watzka, of Lewis Center, Ohio, has been named Franklin County Volunteer of the Year in Income Development for her work with Colleges Against Cancer and Relay For Life. She will receive a Franklin County Recognition Award on Nov. 5.
Watzka founded a chapter of Colleges Against Cancer at Otterbein in fall 2008 and chaired Otterbein’s first Relay For Life, which took place in May 2009. The event included 17 teams, 290 participants and raised a total of $14,542.
In fall 2008, the Otterbein chapter of Colleges Against Cancer successfully hosted Breast Cancer Awareness Week and the Great American Smokeout, which focuses on the dangers of tobacco. Colleges Against Cancer also led a skin cancer awareness campaign in spring 2009.
“Without Breanna, Otterbein College would remain an audience untouched by the American Cancer Society. Thanks to her, students learned about Relay For Life and the programs and services offered by the American Cancer Society,” said Heather Gilbert, income development coordinator for ACS and staff partner for Otterbein College.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our first Relay and the committee members and participants. I’m honored to be a part of such an important step for the Otterbein community,” said Watzka.
In addition to working with ACS, Watzka serves as president of the CardinalCorps Leaders, a group of scholarship students serving at Otterbein’s Center for Community Engagement. She also coordinates an afterschool program at Whittier Elementary School in Westerville. She will graduate in June with a double major in public relations and journalism.
Relay For Life is a fun-filled, 24-hour event, symbolizing a day in the life of someone fighting cancer—a disease that never sleeps. It began in 1985 in Tacoma, Washington and now takes place in 19 countries outside of the U.S. There are 14 Relay For Life events in Franklin County.
Colleges Against Cancer is a nationwide collaboration of college students, faculty, and staff dedicated to eliminating cancer by initiating and supporting programs of the American Cancer Society in college communities.
