ANN ARBOR—Sharon Aksamit of Petersburg was recently given special recognition from the United Way for her 15 years of experience as the University of Michigan’s United Way campaign co-coordinator.

Aksamit has been instrumental in the success of the Washtenaw County United Way campaign for the past 15 years, according to Jim Kosteva, U-M’s director of community relations. She was responsible for counting all the pledges from U-M Central Campus and University Hospital employees, including retirees, and reporting on the campaign’s progress to Kosteva.

During her years as a United Way volunteer, Aksamit tallied more than $14 million in United Way pledges. Last year alone she dealt with more than 5,000 pledges totaling more than $1 million.

Of her years with the United Way, Aksamit says: “It was very challenging and stressful to count the pledges, but I was able to meet and work with a lot of the U-M volunteers and members of the Washtenaw United Way staff.”

A recent promotion means that Aksamit, an administrative associate at the University’s Department of Financial Analysis, will no longer be able to play the significant role in the United Way campaign that she has for many years. “I enjoyed working on the campaign a great deal, and it was very nice to be recognized for my work,” says Aksamit. “I believe in the United Way, and everything they stand for.”

United WayWashtenaw County United Way