Sally Hunsdorfer, a Marion resident and founder of The Himalayan Project, was honored with the Wells College Association Award for her work in community development nationally and abroad.

Hunsdorfer, an alumna of Wells College, accepted the award in Aurora, N.Y. in June.

Since 2001, Hunsdorfer has made annual trips to Nepal to deliver jackets, school supplies and hygiene to people in the Himalayas.

Her main focus has been on a school in the village of Chaurikharka, originally founded by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. The school was intended to educate 30 students but has now been expanded to accommodate 400 students, many who travel hours on foot to attend classes.

Hunsdorfer was first introduced to Nepal during a yearlong trip with her husband and teenage sons in 1997. The area was one of the family's favorite stops and eventually led to the creation of The Himalayan Project, a nonprofit organization.

In her acceptance speech, Hunsdorfer said, "The Himalayan Project was born with the mission of helping to preserve indigenous cultures of the Himalayas through education, community development and social outreach. For the past 15 years we have been committed to developing this outpost of a school to include the addition of all classes through Grade 12."

Read the complete speech here and read Sippican Week's article on Hunsdorfer here.