Community Engagement Comes Full Circle at UVM and for CDAE

The 5th Annual Celebration of Service-Learning and Recognition Reception took place Tuesday, April 29 in UVM's Billings Student Center.

When Corey Beach began a project on affordable housing as part of her community development class within the Community Development and Applied Economics Department at UVM in the fall of 2005, she had no idea that her future would revolve around this work. Having completed a project to research current laws and regulations that govern mobile home parks for her Project Planning and Development class, Corey was then called to give testimony on her research to the Vermont Legislature. Her work intrigued Representative Bill Botzow, who got in touch with her to talk about the town of Pownal, which later became a research focus for Corey in her work with the UVM Center for Rural Studies. By Fall 2006, Corey had turned her interest into a funded research study through the Undergraduate Research Endeavors Competative Awards (URECA) at UVM and went on to secure a work-study position at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). When the Mobile Home project director position opened up at CVOEO, and Corey was ready to graduate, her path was clear. Now a professional staff member at CVOEO, Corey has come full circle, serving as a community partner to new groups of students in service-learning classes – right where she began.

On April 29th, 2008 at 4:00pm, Corey was recognized with the Outstanding Service-Learning Community Partner Award at a recognition reception hosted by UVM's Office of Community-University Partnerships and Service-Learning (CUPS). As her nominator, Professor Dan Baker, testified, "Corey insured the course project got off on the right foot…and was an invaluable resource for discussing ideas, feasibility, logistics, and problem resolution [with students]." She is among 6 community partners being recognized for their outstanding work with UVM students.

CUPS Associate Director Carrie Williams Howe (at podium) salutes the dedication and hard work of Corey Beach, of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and '07 CDAE alum, who received the Outstanding Service-Learning Community Partner Award.

Service-Learning classes have existed at UVM for many years; they integrate community-based projects with course content so that one aspect informs and guides the other. The CUPS Office was founded in 2003 to promote to support active, collaborative UVM-Community partnerships, high quality service-learning, and community-based scholarship. Since that time, the number documented service-learning classes per year has more than tripled. In the 2007-2008 academic year, for example, more than 60 UVM courses integrated community-based learning elements. Momentum in Community-Based Research has followed suit, with increased numbers of faculty participating in research that is designed and carried out in collaboration with community partners.

Gwen Pokalo, CDAE undergraduate student, delivers the student keynote to community partners, UVM students, faculty, staff, and administrators.

CDAE undergraduate student Gwen Pokalo delivered the student keynote address recounting her experience in six different service-learning courses while at the University of Vermont. As a graduating senior, Pokalo spoke of her increased confidence in being able to present potential employers with a portfolio of projects she has implemented in the real world.

This event was also the last official duty of CDAE Associate Professor Christopher Koliba who's appointment as CUPS Faculty Director will be coming to an end within a month. Koliba will hand over the position to John Sama of UVM's Residential Learning Communities.

The CUPS Annual Recognition Reception recognizes faculty, students, and community partners who have excelled in creating community-based learning opportunities that both enhance student learning and meet real community needs. Awards have been presented annually for the last 5 years. The following nominees were honored at the 2008 ceremony:

Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award:

Winners:

• Matthew Kolan, for his work in managing a senior capstone course in Natural Resources called “Environmental Problem Solving” which engages students in team-based projects around environmental issues in the community.
• Ann Greenan-Naumann for her leadership in engaging graduate physical therapy students in community-based work with low-income residents and residents with disabilities (in partnership with the Northeast Disabled Athletic Association and Cathedrale Square senior living residence).

Special Recognition:

• Jeanne Fossani (deceased) for her efforts to integrate international service-learning into environmental studies courses in Costa Rica.

Outstanding Service-Learning Student Award:

Winner: Kate Lesniak (Sociology) for her leadership as a teaching assistant and academic intern with the King Street Youth Center through two separate service-learning courses.

Nominees:

• Wendy Friant, Physical Therapy
• Scott Hannigan, Physical Therapy
• Jess Roy, Education

Outstanding Service-Learning Community Partner Award

Winner: Corey Beach, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (see above)

Nominees:

• Nancy Bove, Burlington Parks and Recreation
• Eric Kaufman, H.O. Wheeler School
• Wendy LaChapelle, Pine Forest Children’s Community
• Ron Redmond, Church Street Marketplace
• Patrick Standen, Northeast Disabled Athletic Association

Nancy Bove of Burlington Parks and Recreation and Ron Redmond of Church Street Marketplace were also recognized as nominees for the Outstanding Service-Learning Community Partner Awards. Burlington Parks and Recreation and Church Street Marketplace were recognized for work with students in CDAE's Event Planning course led by Lynn Gregory in production of Burlington's annual Winter Festival.

For more information on the Office of Community-University Partnerships and Service-Learning, visit www.uvm.edu/partnerships.

This article is adapted from a press release issued by the Office of Community-University Partnerhips and Service-Learning on April 29, 2008.