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2006-2007 Vermont Campus Compact Awards
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Student Awards
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Community Partner Awards
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Faculty/Staff Awards
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Student Awards | Campus/ Community Partner Awards | Faculty/Staff Awards
Commitment to Service and Engagement Award:
This award is given to one student per VCC campus for both
the breadth and depth of her/his community involvement. Each campus
may select one student for this award.
Award Winners
Julia Roth, Burlington College
Julia opened the Kryia Studio, an arts center where community members
share creative space and talent, and children grow artistically. The Studio
also hosts music and dance performances, and serves as a hub of artistic
activity in a culturally diverse area. Julia also organized a Mural Project
at Turning Point Center, a safe space for recovering addicts. She got
clients and community members to raise money, use their creativity, and
celebrate the Center's one-year anniversary.
Katherine Sprowl, Castleton State College
Katherine is Vice President of the Community Service Club, Secretary and
member of the Alternative Spring Break mission for Katrina Relief, coordinator
of the inaugural Box City and Stuff A Van initiatives as CSC, and as well
as a volunteer at numerous community organizations. She served as a residential
mentor for the Upward Bound Program, and she participated in Break Away
training, focusing on HIV/AIDS service in San Francisco.
Nolan Masterson, Champlain College
Nolan organized Champlain's first comprehensive recycling program, and
then founded Champlain's first environmental organization, Champlain Organizes
Recycling Efficiently (CORE). For the past 18 months, Nolan has been responsible
for recycling collection and awareness on campus. Nolan also coauthored
a petition for Office of Cultural Competency, and he is a search committee
member for the Director of Diversity and Inclusion.
Ellie May Perry, Community College of Vermont
In three years, Ellie has tutored over 100 children at four sites with
the America Reads program: Sheldon Elementary, Enosburg Elementary, Franklin
County Bookmobile and St. Albans City School. She helps children progress
to a level they may not attain without the benefit of the America Reads
Program and Ellie's time. Ellie May is a single parent with five children;
her goal is to be an elementary school teacher.
Irene Holak, Green Mountain College
Irene led GMC's Books for Africa drive, and she raised money and awareness
for both Vermont's Campaign to End Childhood Hunger and coastal wetlands
restoration. Irene also contributed to campus environmental programs by
securing money for multiple projects through the Student Campus Greening
Fund. Irene works as a Student Manager as part of the Farm Work Study
program at Cerridwen Farm.
Christopher Lamica, Johnson State College
Chris, a Johnson State basketball player and president of the Student
Athletic Advisory Committee, serves the community through his passion
for athletics. He participated in a winter coat drive and in campus events
such as volleyball tournaments, a weigh-loss initiative for the JSC community,
and "Girls in Sports" Day. Chris works with youth weekly in
a Laraway Youth and Family Services program, "Shooting for Goals,"
and he coached at the Small Fry Basketball Clinic.
James J. Politis, Lyndon State College
James has been a leading presence of the College's American Metrological
Society Club and has done an outstanding job over the past four years
helping to organize community science fairs that educate local teachers
on how to better teach science to their students. He has also been instrumental
in organizing the Northeast Storm Conference, bringing academic and business
leaders together with students, bringing national recognition to the club.
Jessica Cox, Middlebury College
Jessica organized the annual Midd Kid for a Day event, in which Middlebury
hosts middle school students in the community and exposes them to the
college experience. Jessica also works directly with community members
as a Community Friends mentor, and volunteers at the Addison County Parent
Child Center. Jessica traveled internationally and taught camps in rural
villages of Malawi with emphasis on HIV/AIDS and environmental education.
Christopher Lockard, New England Culinary Institute
Chris organizes student volunteers to prepare meals for the Salvation
Army, coordinated a food booth to benefit NECI Student Council at the
Essex Junction Block Party, and led a team of students to participate
in the Multiple Sclerosis Society Walk. Chris advanced NECI's commitment
to sustainability by implementing a Student Lecture format that provided
a foundation for learning about sustainability practices, utilization
of local products, and local economy.
John Szewczyk, Norwich University
John works to create partnerships between Norwich, community organizations,
and community members. He is the AmeriCorps Student Team Leader at Norwich,
coordinating AmeriCorps members' community partnerships. John volunteers
as a counselor at the local Boys and Girls Club, prepares a weekly community
dinner, as well as organizes special events for Project Give.
Rebecca Richard, Saint Michael's College
As Coordinator of Temporary Relief for Saint Michael's MOVE office, Rebecca
manages volunteers, works closely with a team of students weekly serving
dinners at the Salvation Army and COTS, and has attended service trips
to Kentucky and Alabama (Rebecca plans to travel to NYC and India this
Spring). After studying abroad in Fiji, Rebecca works as an intern at
Joseph's House Parish Outreach Center, where she is involved in direct-aid,
education, and advocacy.
Keena Kaye, School for International Training/World Learning
Keena is the lead organizer for the SIT chapter of Net Impact's Race for
a Reason and has given this year's Race high visibility with co-sponsorship
by SIT/World Learning. With a goal to raise $10,000, all proceeds will
go to benefit Global Grassroots, which offers social entrepreneurship
training and seed funding to help women launch sustainable projects to
improve their lives and to fund new projects designed by refugees who
had fled to Chad from Darfur, Sudan.
Matthew McGetrick, Southern Vermont College
Matt is a mentor and organizer of the SVC Big Brothers, Big Sisters program.
He led "Sweet Dreams," a project providing each area child in
foster care with a pillow case designed for them that they can take from
home to home. Matt has volunteered for projects benefiting BROC, a local
food pantry, organized and assisted with food drives, and been involved
with Project Against Violent Encounters (P.A.V.E.). Matt is the president
and founder of Colleges Against Cancer, the first chapter in Vermont.
Nathaniel Moore, University of Vermont
Nathaniel serves as student director of the Alternative Spring Break program
at UVM, planning programs, coordinating trainings, and managing logistics.
The co-directors facilitated 19 spring break trips, in which 190 people
served over 6650 hours. Nathaniel encourages outdoor experiences as an
Outdoor Wilderness Leader and Instructor, and through his participation
in Green-Up Day.
Justin Marsha, Vermont Technical College
Justin serves as chairperson of the Student Council at VTC, mediating
meetings and encouraging agenda issues. He organized the Legislative Day,
familiarizing students with the processes at the State House. Justin implemented
a Food Service Survey and is working with food service management to improve
food service on campus, and he coordinated a Leadership Course for the
Student Council and students.
Barbara Shaw-Dorso, Woodbury College
A Legal Studies Certificate student, Barbara serves on the board of directors
for the Citizen's Advisory Committee at the Burlington Justice Center,
and sits as a panel member with a leadership role at weekly meetings of
the Restorative Justice Board in Burlington. In addition to serving on
the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ board of directors,
Barbara is also chair of the board of trustees for the College Street
Congregational Church.
Vermont Teddy Bear 2006 Student Citizen Award
The award, presented by The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., recognizes exceptional volunteer efforts by college students across the state. The award carries a reward of $1,000 to the student, a corporate gift of $1,000 to the non-profit organization where the student serves, and a $1,000 gift to the institution the student attends. VCC uses the Gala as an opportunity to publicly recognize last fall's Vermont Teddy Bear winner and finalists in front of their peers.
Recipient
Jillian Hall, a student at Lyndon State College, was awarded the 2006 Vermont Teddy Bear Student Citizen Award last fall. Jillian is an active member of Lyndon State's campus volunteer organization, A.S.S.I.S.T., in which she has held leadership positions of both vice president and president. Instead of looking for volunteer opportunities outside of Vermont for the club for an Alternative Break, Hall knew there was plenty of work to be done right here at home. She organized a variety of service projects in her own community, ranging from preparing and serving food, running bingo games, picking up trash, giving parents a night off, to spring cleaning at a local rehabilitation center. Her ongoing efforts include coordinating volunteers at local nursing homes, organizing food drives, and recruiting volunteers for homelessness awareness walks. Hall also works with the America Reads program to promote reading for pre-K and kindergarten students. Hall's efforts have gained attention beyond Lyndon State campus. Now, instead of seeking out opportunities for her volunteer organization, she has raised the awareness of her group to a level where she receives calls and requests from the community for their help and is forging new partnerships with other volunteer groups.
"My motivation is to simply make an impact on someone else's life,"
said Jillian Hall, winner of the 2006 Vermont Teddy Bear Student Citizen
Award. "I believe that any little thing that I can volunteer to do
can make a difference in at least one persons' life."
"I am continuously impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit that
our award winners demonstrate," said Elisabeth Robert, President
and CEO of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company. "They seek new opportunities
or new approaches to volunteerism and Jillian is no exception. She not
only sought out a volunteer opportunity at her school but also identified
needs in her community, examined her resources, and allocated them to
offer the best support possible."
Finalists
Brett Harrewyn, Burlington College
Brent volunteers weekly with local government access cable Channel 17's
Center for Media and Democracy, as a director on the Live at 5.25 call-in
programs, producing community based segments, and training volunteer field
producers.
Nicole Marie Walsh, Champlain College
Nicole is an active member and founding mentor of Champlain College's
partnership with DREAM, a non-profit adventure mentoring organization.
For the past two years, Walsh has been mentor to a 9-year-old boy from
Milton, VT. Under Walsh's leadership, 17 other Champlain students are
mentors in the DREAM program. Walsh traveled last spring to News Orleans
to help residents after Hurricane Katrina.
Frances Kearfott, Community College of Vermont
Frances far exceeded requirements for a Community Action course that entailed
fundraising and renovating a transitional apartment at the Rutland County
Women's Shelter, putting in many extra hours cleaning and painting, gathering
prizes for a raffle and silent auction, and leading her fellow classmates
in raising over $5,000 for the shelter.
Jennifer Lee Dickie, Johnson State College
Jennifer is an active member of the SAAC program, which promotes athletics
on campus and in Lamoille County. Dickie has coordinated coat drives,
promoted girls' sports and fitness programs, volunteered with home building
with Habitat for Humanity, and led an alternative break trip.
May Boeve and Jamie Henn, Middlebury College
May and Jamie co-founded the Sunday Night Group, known on campus as "SNG."
This ongoing effort to bring together Middlebury's student activists seeks
to raise awareness of environmental issues on the local, state, national,
and global levels. The group's current undertakings range from helping
Addison County residents improve insulation in their homes, to meeting
regularly with Middlebury College's own Carbon Reduction Initiative to
research and propose the construction of a biomass facility in order to
reduce the College's use of fuel oil. Last Labor Day weekend, Boeve, Henn
and other members of SNG organized a five-day walk from Ripton to Burlington
to inspire Vermonters to take action in addressing global warming. Since
SNG's inception, partnerships with Middlebury College student organizations
interested in sustainable and fair trade, AIDS awareness and groups examining
issues of incarceration have formed. Their work is being profiled in the
Journal for Higher Education and Businessweek as a model of student activism
for schools across the country.
Kathryn Schnurr, Saint Michael's College
Kathryn is an active volunteer with MOVE, but her passion lies in the
plight of the homeless. She organized students to serve meals for both
the Salvation Army and the Committee by Temporary Shelter (COTS), and
for St. Michael's Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. She volunteers with
Best Buddies, Corrections Volleyball, Senior Citizens, and Extended Service
programs, traveling to South Carolina, New Orleans and West Virginia.
Madeleine
M. Kunin Public Service Award:
This award distinguishes one remarkable student from a VCC member institution
for his/her outstanding public service and leadership, demonstrated through
a spectrum of efforts. Through their sustained involvement, the recipient
establishes a linkage of their service to a larger social context and
a commitment to community impact. The recipient of this award models deeply
ingrained civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative,
innovative approaches to community issues, and effective community building.
Recipient
Nolan Masterson, Champlain College
Nolan established a comprehensive recycling program on the Champlain campus.
He identified the lack of recycling services the first year he came to
Champlain. He surveyed the campus, provided the Physical Plant Office
with a complete plan that included logistics, proposed sites, pick-up
schedule, and budget. Nolan purchased the recycling bins and placed them
throughout campus, having grown the idea into a fully operational service
program that he has overseen and managed for the past eighteen months.
His efforts have changed both the practice and culture around sustainability
on the Champlain campus, leading to a recent energy audit and a campus-wide
compact florescence light bulb replacement program.
Nolan then organized CORE, Champlain's first environmental organization, that worked to raise awareness on campus, through dorm presentations, posters, an Organic Feast, and most famously, the Trash on the Lawn Day, where they collected and sorted one full day's worth of campus trash into four visible piles - compostable, recyclables, reusables, and trash - in the middle of the courtyard.
Nolan has also been involved in Champlain's efforts to diversify its student body. Through his leadership as a student member of the faculty senate's multicultural affairs committee, Nolan, with a small group committed students, facilitated discussions and organized a petition drive to create a campus office for diversity. Through the hard work of several campus committees and the voice of students, the process has started to develop such an office and Nolan is now serving on the search committee for the office's first Director.
Finalists
Sarah Grillo, Burlington College
Sarah works tirelessly to raise awareness regarding Peak Oil (global oil
depletion) and energy efficiency, not just among various college constituents
but in the wider community as well, being invited to speak at youth conferences,
high schools, and institutes. She is creating a documentary on Peak Oil,
emphasizing what Vermonters can do to address the problem, and is working
on a Burlington Change a Light Challenge to persuade Burlington businesses,
schools and homeowners to replace incandescent bulbs with more efficient
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs.
Stephanie Johnson, Castleton State College
Stephanie is President of the Social Issues Club, organizer of Box City,
initiator of Your Voice boards, and presenter at conferences on service-learning
and civic engagement. Stephanie worked on the Green Campus Initiative,
aiming to increase environmental awareness and create a recycling program
on campus. She led a small group of students to monitor the program's
effectiveness and created an informational/promotional video of the recycling
program on campus.
Dave Jacobs, Johnson State College
Dave was Break Away Trip Leader, Kingdom Corps Trail Conservation Member,
and Freshman Orientation Leader. He went above and beyond during the Break
Away trip: mucking a barn, contributing to a reading group focused on
sustainability, encouraging other students to attend a day of workshops
on non-violence and permaculture, and working hard in Tennessee.
Alexander Hall, Middlebury College
As a summer poverty intern with the John W. Graham Emergency Shelter,
Alex took initiative beyond the internship to benefit the agency and its
clients: he analyzed its expenses, upgraded computer operations, compiled
research on housing and homelessness, built a fundraising database and
produced a website, and eventually assumed financial management for the
agency and was asked to join its Board of Directors. Alex continued after
his internship to volunteer, organize events, and advocate for the Shelter
and has provided campus leadership on other programs and events related
to hunger and homelessness.
Kimberly Sorber, Norwich University
Kimberly is NU's Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Chapter president, and
has now coordinated two of NU's Alternative Spring Break trips down to
New Orleans, including the trip this spring she will co-lead. She led
while participating in NU VISIONS Abroad program, a local and international
service-learning program.
Maggie Colacchio, Saint Michael's College
Maggie has helped to organize World AIDS Day events; including lectures,
film screenings, informational tabling, and urging Vermont's Senators
to give $8 billion to health care workers in Africa. She mentored an autistic
woman through Best Buddies; raised money for the New Sudanese Education
Initiative to build new schools in the Sudan; and created the International
Service Club that was comprised of at least 10 SMC students to tutor refugee
students in local schools.
Allyson Black-Foley, University of Vermont
Allyson Co-Directed UVM's Alternative Spring Break Program, helped to
organize UVM's Day in the State House, served on the Committee on Student
Activities and elected senator of the Student Government Association.
She is also a mentor with Girl's Eye View, worked with NGOs in Uganda,
and interned with the Vermont Governor's Commission on Women.
Ryan Farran, University of Vermont
Ryan was a service-learning teaching assistant for several courses, acting
as a liaison between students and partnership agencies. Ryan also administered
a survey for the South End Arts and Businesses Association and wrote a
final report with recommendations to help systematize how microbusinesses
receive consulting advice in Burlington's South End.
He served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA Member for the Substance Abuse and Family
Initiative of Burlington.
Justin Marsha, Vermont Technical College
Justin chairs the Student Council and arranged a leadership course for
the Student Council and others. He helped organize Legislative Day that
brought 11 VTC students to the state capital to advocate for the Vermont
State Colleges. He facilitated a Food Service Survey, and has been working
with Food Services to improve food service on campus.
Engaged Community
Partner Award:
This award is given to one community partner (individual or organization)
per VCC member campus that has worked to support the civic mission of
their partnering campus. Community partners are vital links for engaging
campuses and students with communities to meet critical needs. This award
is intended to recognize a community partner's involvement with the campus
community.
Lauren-Glenn Davitian (Burlington College)
Lauren-Glenn, Executive Director of Channel 17, provides Burlington College
students with opportunities to be interns, videographers, and producers.
Channel 17 helps BC's Institute for Civic Engagement involve citizens,
students, faculty, and staff in current issues and broadcasts Burlington
College events including a mayoral debate and a multi-national series
on Water Wars in the Middle East.
Brett Blanchard, Poultney High School (Castleton State College)
Dean of Students at Poultney High School, Brett worked closely with Castleton
students enrolled in Applied Behavior Analysis classes to reduce bullying
and improve school culture. Brett worked with students to identify problems,
present and implement programs, and report outcomes. The success of the
initial program led to new programs to address more school-specific issues.
The partnership and program have reached sustainability in part because
of Brett's commitment.
Edmunds Middle School (Champlain College)
Champlain education majors learn to teach in culturally and ethnically
diverse communities through the partnership with Edmunds Elementary and
Middle Schools, two of the most diverse schools in the state. The curriculum
includes a multi-year commitment to on-going relationship-building and
tutoring of immigrant children as well as a co-taught Service-Learning
in the Classroom course. 50 college students connected with over 200 children
in just three years.
Rutland County Women's Network (Community College of Vermont)
RCWN partnered with the CCV Community Activism class in a project to renovate
a transitional apartment for women. After students explored community
issues including domestic violence, RCWN provided literature and a speaker
to encourage students to brainstorm solutions.
Joe LaRosa, Rutland Southwest Supervisory Union (Green Mountain College)
As Director of the 21st Century Grant, Joe places Green Mountain student
mentors and advisors, and works closely with staff and faculty to develop
and implement programs that serve area children through math tutoring,
foreign language instruction, wellness initiatives, arts, recreation,
and increasing high school student interest in the sciences.
River Arts (Johnson State College)
River Arts seeks to enrich community life through the arts by providing
art education and events to Lamoille Valley community members of all ages.
River Arts has hosted JSC interns and volunteers, training and educating
JSC students. River Arts also shares non-profit management practices with
Business students at JSC.
The Comfort Inn and Suites (Lyndon State College)
Each year the Comfort Inn contributes 60 night stays to the College so
that it can attract talented artists and lecturers from around the region
and nation to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, enabling Lyndon State College
to serve as the intellectual and cultural center of Vermont's Northeast
Kingdom.
John W. Graham Emergency Shelter (Middlebury College)
The John W. Graham Emergency Shelter (JGES) partners with Middlebury's
Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE) to support the College's civic mission
and increase poverty awareness. Both are members of a grassroots anti-poverty
coalition which sponsored a public discussion series on affordable housing
in Addison County. JGES also participates in MiddAction Fairs, enables
weekly service projects, and hosts a summer intern working on poverty-related
issues.
Heidi Passalacqua (Norwich University)
Heidi is a volunteer committed to both the Northfield and Norwich University
communities. She founded and organizes the Annual Haunted Hayride, which
raises thousands of dollars in scholarships for Norwich students and local
youth and requires hundreds of University and community volunteer hours
and a complete year of strategic planning.
St. Francis Xavier School (Saint Michael's College)
In partnership with the College's "Peace and Justice" First-Year
seminar, the Saint Francis leadership team and teachers meet with Saint
Michael's students to discuss how to tailor community-based learning to
school needs. Through mentoring and other programs, Saint Michael's students
reflect, give back to the community, and create friendships.
Sarah Green (Southern Vermont College)
As Community Executive of the American Cancer Society of Vermont, Sarah
helped facilitate the first Vermont chapter of Colleges Against Cancer
at Southern Vermont College and assisted their mission to stop the spread
of cancer by helping the group organize a dinner to honor local cancer
survivors and their caregivers, organize a team and participate in the
Relay-For-Life campaign in Bennington County, and much more.
Kris and Glen Coville of Wild Branch Farm, on behalf of "small
scale, diversified farms of the Northeast Kingdom." (Sterling College)
This group of Craftsbury area agricultural enterprises represents a grassroots
movement in Vermont that has inspired many students and served as an invaluable
resource for learning work and service at Sterling. Students have come
to know some if not all of these local farms, as students interact and
work with them through service-learning courses, service projects, farm
tours, internships, volunteering, as sites for fulfilling work commitments,
job and service placements, and as overall sites for hands-on learning.
"Together local farmers and Sterling College are not only transforming
the agricultural landscape of our region but modeling a service-learning
approach to educating future farmers."
Judith Flint (Vermont Technical College)
Judith, the Children's Librarian at Kimball Library, engages VTC students
directly with children most in need of tutoring and emotional support.
Students meet with children in three elementary schools, five daycares,
and the Library. Judith makes herself available to VTC students and faculty
by attending trainings, lunches, and classes on campus.
Bonnie Acker and Abbie Nelson (University of Vermont)
Bonnie and Abbie work closely together to engage UVM faculty, students,
and staff in their mission to transform local school food and food education.
Bonnie, a volunteer with the Burlington School Food Project, and Abbie,
Education Coordinator of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of
Vermont and the VT FEED local purchasing coordinator, partner with UVM
students and faculty to create service-learning projects that address
issues including school composting, local food development, school gardens,
and food education program evaluations.
Montpelier Community Justice Center (MCJC) (Woodbury College)
MCJC welcomes the participation of Woodbury College students who aspire
to serve the community and provides vital opportunities for them to amplify
their learning in Mediation and Prevention and Community Development while
benefiting society. A number of Woodbury graduates have now gone on to
become MCJC staff members, enabling them to transition to professional
lives of engagement.
Campus/Community
Partnership Award:
This award is intended to recognize one exceptional partnership between
a campus and (a) community partner(s). This is a collaboration that works
together in mutually beneficial ways to produce measurable improvements
in people's lives and enhance learning in the process. Campus/Community
partnerships have the capacity to model creative, deep, and sustaining
approaches to community problem-solving, and this award is intended to
highlight an exemplary established partnership that has enriched the outcomes
for both campus and community.
Recipient
Northfield Boys and Girls Club/Norwich University
While the partnership between Norwich University and the Boys and Girls
Club in Northfield has been on-going for years, the current director,
Tony Moulton, has reached out to strengthen ties with Norwich students
and programs, and Norwich students have responded eagerly and with enthusiasm.
Over 50% of the Club's volunteer staff comes directly from the University,
including service-learning students, study-based mentors, work-study students,
AmeriCorps members, and student volunteers. Norwich students assist the
club in servicing the nearly 400 youth at the Teen Center and the Elementary
After-School programs. They do this through homework assistance and tutoring,
engaging in sports activities such as creating the youth wrestling club,
teaching cooking skills, aiding in conflict resolution and most importantly
acting as positive role models for youth who desperately need this attention.
As Tony Moulton writes, "Norwich University students have joined forces with staff and volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club in Northfield to create hope, opportunity, and civic engagement to enable all young people in the Northfield and Roxbury area, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens." Increased self-esteem, better conflict resolution skills, and academic improvements in the youth served by the BGC have been observed by high school principals, nurses, teachers, guidance counselors, law officials, parents, and recently, even the Governor. Staff at the Boys and Girls Club also report increased confidence, self-esteem, maturity and even shifts in career aspirations in the Norwich University students.
Beyond direct service and intervention, the partnership also engages in collaborative planning for fundraising and activities and community awareness, and the University recently donated computers to the Boys and Girls Club.
Finalists
People in Partnership/Johnson State College
People in Partnership and Johnson State College work together on a range
of issues from housing to hunger to youth and more. PIP also connects
classroom theory with community organizations through the Turn the Curve
Initiative, higher education and human services partnerships that can
begin to "turn the curve" on indicators of well being in Vermont.
Middlebury College Snow Bowl/Middlebury College
The Snow Bowl purchased carbon offsets, and became the first carbon neutral
ski area in the country, in response to Middlebury Environmental Economics
students. The partnership reflects the College and community's mutual
concern about global climate change. "By choosing to go carbon neutral,
the Middlebury College Snow Bowl has established itself not only as a
leader in the ski industry but as a leader in climate protection."
Committee on Temporary Shelter/Saint Michael's College
The commitment of the MOVE Program, as well as other faculty and staff
at the College "creates valuable learning experiences for students
- an understanding of the reasons for and nature of poverty and some of
the ways this community has responded to homelessness - and provides much-needed
assistance to COTS staff and clients."
Faculty/ Staff Awards
Award for
Excellence in Community-Based Teaching
This award is given to one faculty member who has made
public service an integral part of their teaching. This award recognizes
innovative teaching methods through the use of service-learning or community-based
research, a commitment to student voice and development, and inclusion
of community voice and partnership.
Recipient
Vince Bolduc, Saint Michael's College
Vince Bolduc is Professor of Sociology. Jeffrey Trumbower, Dean of the
College says, "Vince's work in this area began long before the terms
'service-learning' and 'community-based learning' were in vogue. In his
Sociology Research Methods course, all the way back to the 1970s, he engaged
students in conducting sociological research for governmental bodies and
non-profit organizations to the benefit of both the organizations and
of the students who learned by doing. The Visiting Nurse Association,
the school boards of Essex Junction and South Burlington, the City of
Burlington, Chittenden County, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington,
and the Vermont Business Roundtable have all benefited from the research
Vince and his students have conducted into important issues of concern
to the whole community.
In the 1990s, Vince created a course called "Poverty," which one year incorporated a spring break trip to Appalachia and the next year to the Edmunite Mission Center in Selma, Alabama. He still teaches this course every year and limits enrollment to those students who go on domestic or international service trips sponsored by the MOVE office, thus further institutionalizing these service trips while expanding the scope of the learning for students.
A few years ago, Vince began teaching a first year seminar on "Peace and Justice," and since then has taken on the leadership role of working with faculty to incorporate service-learning into all 4 sections of this seminar. Vince's students read texts related to the refugee experience while working with refugees in the Burlington area. Students in other "Peace and Justice" seminars act as tutors and mentors to Winooski and Burlington elementary school children.
Finalists
Helen Mango, Castleton State College
Helen is active in the local school systems teaching children about geology,
particularly as an instructor with the Vermont Science Initiative. Her
geologic research is also community-based, and she involves students in
her study of contamination of local groundwater.
Pamela O'Connor, Community College of Vermont
Pamela has spread service-learning at Rutland CCV since participating
in VCC's Problem-Based Service-Learning Institute. Her Community Activism
class renovated an apartment for the Rutland County Women Shelter; two
Communication classes responded to Hurricane Katrina; and a Child Development
class partnered with the Boys and Girls Club.
Kelly Thomas, Champlain College
Kelly's Writing and Performing Oral History class partnered with three
community organizations and developed oral portraits and histories of
each, which were then presented as gifts back to the organizations. One
student wrote, "This course forced me outside of my comfort zone.
I learned a great deal about myself and the people in this world. Every
person you meet is important, and they have something that's worth listening
to."
Natalie Coe, Green Mountain College
Students in Natalie's Environmental Science class consider personal and
campus environmental impact as they partner with the Nature Conservancy,
perform restoration projects by planting tress and compiling educational
materials, conduct campus projects that promote sustainability, and provide
science enrichment programs for Poultney High School students.
Michael Claudon, Middlebury College
Michael organizes the Digital Bridges Program, which explores how the
digital world impacts daily lives and culminates in a student-planned
conference on Middlebury's campus. Michael also developed the Middlebury
Solutions Group, a seminar course that offers undergraduate venture consulting
to Vermont entrepreneurs.
Diane Byrne, Norwich University
Diane is Director of the NU Teacher Education Program, a program innovative
in its outreach to local K-12 schools, alternative schools, and Boys &
Girls Clubs. Diane also traveled to the Cook Islands on a service-learning
trip, and her Doctoral Thesis studies the positive effects of service-learning.
Julie Richards, University of Vermont
Julie was one of the first faculty in the Department of Social Work to
incorporate service-learning into her courses, and she now assists faculty
in the College of Education and Social Services to integrate service-learning
into course syllabi and develop community partnerships. She is working
to create an international learning experience for social work students.
Engaged
Scholar:
This award honors one faculty member for engagement as an integral
part of his/her teaching and research. This award recognizes an innovative
use of service in scholarship, commitment to communities, and work with
engaged campus-community partnerships. Through his/her leadership, the
recipient has made valuable contributions to the field of engaged scholarship
and serves as an exemplar of faculty citizenship to students, faculty,
and staff.
Recipient
Mary Watzin, Professor, Rubenstein School of Environment
and Natural Resources; Director of Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory,
University of Vermont
For the 16 years Mary has been at the University of Vermont, Mary has
worked extensively with community organizations to advocate for informed
management of Lake Champlain through her service and research. Mary's
recent research involves working to understand the causes and impacts
of blue-green algae blooms in the Lake. Instead of deploying teams of
graduate students to collect data, Mary set up an innovative citizen monitoring
program to collect data for the study. Community members, many of whom
had been affected by beach closings due to algal blooms, were involved
in learning about their role in contributing to those blooms. Mary compiled
the data sets and sent regular reports back to the citizen monitors so
they could share the results with the community. This information sharing
helped the community to be more informed about their impact on the Lake,
and Mary has been able to publish this research in academic journals.
Community partners also praise Mary and the impact of her engaged work in the community. Pixley Hill, Chair of the Friends of Missisquoi Bay, notes, "Her community 'classroom' includes high school students, older citizens, farmers, environmental advocates, and community leaders-and she informs and teaches all of us without our really knowing it. Citizens are very impassioned over the severity of both water quality and farm economic losses in our area, but Dr. Watzin's ability to convey scientific data and research in down-to-earth language calms meetings and minds… Changing an entire watershed means changing social behavior, and Dr. Watzin is literally educating an entire watershed. We trust her, because while others frequently see only abstract theories, she is as passionate about the Lake, the community, and water quality as we are. She truly is a 'positive force,' and the intense spotlight she has put on Northern Lake Champlain has given hope-and important resources and programs for action. She is truly an "engaged scholar" who unites University and Community.
"Mary serves as a model for other faculty that strive to integrate community engagement into their teaching and research. She is living proof that faculty can enrich, rather than limit, their scholarship activities through community partnerships."
Finalists
Terry Bergen, Castleton State College
Castleton students in Terry's Applied Behavior Analysis course design
and implement programs to address identified behavior problems at Poultney
High School. Terry's sustained commitment to this program has created
a mutually beneficial relationship between Castleton and the Poultney
school system.
John Miller, Johnson State College
Students in John's Advanced Photography course partnered with the Craftsbury
Community Care Center, interacting weekly with elders and creating a documentary
photography exhibition which reflected their experiences. John has a long
history of engaging his photography skills for community benefit.
Gloria Gonzalez, Middlebury College
Teaching in both the Spanish and Latin American Studies programs, Gloria
uses local and contemporary context to integrate her work on the human
conditions of Latinos in various contexts into her teaching, research
and service. Focusing on the plight of Mexican farm workers in Vermont,
Gloria initiated a program where Middlebury students offer English classes
to Mexican immigrants and free translation services for doctors and clinics,
the hospital, and other locations, providing critical bilingual services
throughout Addison County. She also worked with the local Migrant Workers
Coalition to organize and moderate an open forum on Mexican farm workers
and their lives on dairy farms.
Sue Yesalonia, Norwich University
Sue's courses each contain a service-learning component in which students
implement dynamic Physical Education projects in the community. Sue's
doctoral research develops a model for service-learning programs, identifying
the interaction between students, faculty, community partners, and programs.
Patricia Siplon, Saint Michael's College
Patricia involves students in community engagement through her service-learning
courses, her role as faculty advisor of on-campus groups, and as a guest
lecturer. "Patricia's work with HIV-AIDS, both as a teacher and a
scholar, has enabled her students to better understand their world and
to act upon that understanding."
Sarah Silbert, Vermont Technical College
"Sarah has consistently developed opportunities for students to become
connected with the community." Sarah is the "heart and soul"
of the America Reads program, and she developed the first true service-learning
course at Vermont Tech that was offered to students, faculty and community
members.
Campus
Leadership for Civic Engagement Award:
This award recognizes one staff, faculty, or administrator for their
leadership in advancing public engagement as a critical component of their
higher education institution. The award recognizes someone who has worked
towards the institutionalization of service, strived toward a shared vision
of higher education as a public good, supported faculty and students,
and formed innovative partnerships.
Recipient
Carrie Williams Howe, Associate Director, Community-University
Partnerships and Service-Learning (CUPS) Office, University of Vermont
The depth and breadth of Carrie Williams Howe's impact at UVM and across
the state would be impressive for anyone, but for a person so early in
her career, it is breathtaking. She has helped to expand service-learning
course offerings at UVM, was instrumental in work to designate service-learning
courses in the course catalogue, helped institutionalize the Faculty Fellows
program, created the service-learning Teaching Assistant Program, is a
founding member of the UVM Service Network, led the development of a virtual
"front door" for community-based organizations looking to partner
with UVM, matches community organizations to UVM resources, has been the
anchor in the CUPS office over three years of revolving faculty leadership,
has presented nationally and has co-authored a chapter in a book, and
more.
Lynne Bond, Professor of Psychology and former Director of the CUPS office, writes, "Carrie has been instrumental in directing the evolution of … the CUPS Office into a major force on our campus. Her extraordinary skill, energy, and commitment to all that is embodied in "service-learning and community engagement," and her determination to communicate its power, relevance and broad benefit to faculty, students, administration, and community alike, have made Carrie a remarkable leader in infusing public engagement into the core of UVM…. She doesn't just talk the talk, or merely walk the walk; she creates a dance that others can't resist."
Finalists
Jane O'Meara Sanders, Burlington College
In her "Burlington College Shared Vision for 2010," the new
President declared, "Every aspect of the institution will be actively
carrying out the community-based mission of the College." Jane started
the Institute for Civic Engagement, affiliated the College with community
institutions and organizations, piloted a First-Year Seminar that introduces
students to community and responsible action, and developed new majors
that stress community-based learning.
Paul Derby, Castleton State College
Paul was among the first faculty at Castleton to be trained in service-learning,
was chosen and still fills the position of faculty coordinator of the
American Democracy Project, and was recently selected as Castleton's inaugural
Civic Engagement Fellow, all while leading the campus' comprehensive Sustainability
Initiative.
Paula Gills, Norwich University
Paula "advances public engagement" as director of the University
Learning Support Center, professor of English, advocate for students with
disabilities and specialized learning needs, academic coach to athletic
teams, and mentor.
Lorrie Smith, Saint Michael's College
Lorrie proposed institutional criteria for service-learning courses, providing
the College with an official academic recognition of service-learning
and she continues as a member of the Advisory Board. Lorrie's development
of an interdisciplinary course studying the slave trade in Ghana provides
a model for quality service-learning at Saint Michael's.
View descriptions of previous winners of VCC awards:
2004 Awards
Questions?? Please contact John Coutley
