UniverCity Partnership Awards Presented

Worcester, MA - The Colleges of Worcester Consortium, Inc. hosted its third annual networking event “Colleges and Community – Creating Collaborations” on April 23 at the Hogan Campus Center, College of the Holy Cross.

This event, sponsored by the Consortium Community Engagement Committee, provided an opportunity for community organizations and businesses to meet with campus representatives from the Consortium’s member institutions. This event also provided information on the numerous civic engagement opportunities available through Consortium member institutions and the prospects available to organizations interested in utilizing the talent of local college students to help enhance services and meet objectives.

The highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the third annual Worcester UniverCity Partnership Awards. The “UP Award” honors the impact made by college student volunteers in the community and the agencies for which they worked. The award criteria states that student activity must be identified within one of five areas of student/community engagement: volunteering, internship, work study, service learning, or faculty-guided, community-based research. The student or student team must be connected to an agency or organization external to the nominating campus (a public sector, private sector, or nonprofit organization). The activity must make a substantial contribution to or have a major impact on the organization where the work is conducted and should further the goals of the organization through tangible results. "Through these numerous civic engagement opportunities, students are enriching their academic experience," said Armand Carriere, executive director of the UniverCity Partnership. "Ultimately, we hope they not only become better students, but also better citizens." (See below for a complete list of award winners.)

In addition, the inaugural William Meinhofer Award for Faculty Excellence was presented to Maureen Power, PhD., a member of the faculty at Worcester State College (pictured, above right). Dr. Power has been a leader over the last three decades in promoting service learning and civic engagement in the greater Worcester area. Her early work in incorporating elder students into the mainstream of the college's service learning and community-based urban studies curriculum led to the establishment of the Intergenerational Urban Institute (IUI) at Worcester State. The late Dr. Meinhofer, founding director of the Donelan Office of Community-Based Learning at Holy Cross and founding chairperson of the Community Engagement Committee, lost his battle with cancer in January 2007. "I'm truly honored to receive this award," said Dr. Power. "I knew Bill, and I worked with him, which makes receiving this award an even greater priviledge."

College Student Award Winners

Meaghan O’Donnell of Anna Maria College has dedicated over 400 hours to serving clients of the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program, consistently gaining praise from her supervisors for her commitment to client needs and her work ethic.

Working through the Reach Out Center at Assumption College, Kristen Penkala has organized student volunteers to work with children at Great Brook Valley on homework assignments and recreational play.

The Animal Health Club at Becker College partners with the Second Chance Animal Shelter in East Brookfield to expand the shelter’s capacity to care for surrendered animals and promote animal adoption and responsible pet ownership.

All Kinds of Girls, a project of Clark University, works with female adolescents in Worcester Public Schools to expose young women to different life options, nurture their socio-emotional development, and foster diversity understanding among girls and women.

Rebecca Bates, Andrea Canuel and Jenna Hinchey coordinate the volunteer time of over 100 College of the Holy Cross students who work three days per week with students at the Nativity School, mentoring and helping the students with their homework.

Among other community service, Paul B. Shaw, an honor student at Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, carried out research in collaboration with the Family Health Center of Worcester to assess a way to help diabetic patients manage their disease.

Jeffrey Huth, a full-time student at Nichols College, has been a volunteer firefighter in the East Putnam, CT Fire Department for more than two years. In his service to the fire department, he has responded to numerous emergencies including house fires, medical situations, and car accidents.

The Nursing II students at Quinsigamond Community College participated in a Flu Clinic sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Association Care Network, providing Worcester residents with free flu shots and an opportunity to learn about preventative health care.

Cristina Gioioso, Michelle St. Fleur, Charles Strom and Jorge Tello, second year medical students at UMass Medical School, work with underserved youth at the Center for Healthy Kids in the Great Brook Valley housing community to promote healthy lifestyle choices, focusing on exercise and nutrition.

Through the efforts of Hans Erik Jensen, Brian Foley, Tyler Forbes and Adam Young, students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Holy Name High School gained approval for the installation of the first large wind turbine in Worcester, providing a major step in the advancement of renewable sources of energy and a significant contribution to the betterment of the Worcester community.

Lindsey Gustafson, a student at Worcester State College, has established a significant partnership with AIDS Project Worcester, developing financial literacy classes that will continue to be offered to clients throughout the summer.

Agency Award Winners:

• Kids’ Club at Great Book Valley (Assumption College)
• Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program (Anna Maria College)
• Second Chance Animal Shelter (Becker College)
• Worcester Public Schools (Clark University)
• The Nativity School (College of the Holy Cross)
• Family Health Center of Worcester (Mass. College of Pharmacy)
• East Putnam, CT Fire Department (Nichols College)
• Visiting Nurse Association Care Network (Quinsigamond Community College)
• Center for Healthy Kids (University of Massachusetts Medical School)
• Holy Name High School (WPI)
• AIDS Project Worcester (Worcester State College)

Photo Album (4/23/07)

View the 2005-2006 Community Placement Database