05-06 Statewide Award Winners

Student Awards | Campus/ Community Partner Awards | Faculty/Staff Awards

Student Awards

TD Banknorth Commitment to Service and Engagement Award:
This award is given to one student per VCC member campus for both the breadth and depth of her/his community involvement. For example, recipients may have devoted multiple years to one program or demonstrated their engagement by committing their leadership both to their institution and to community organizations. Each campus may select one student for this award.

Award Winners

Jen Berger, Burlington College
Jen has combined her academic studies in art and theater at Burlington College with her passion around issues of gender and LGBTQ youth. She worked to create at art show for Transgender Day or Remembrance, help with script development on a play addressing issues facing LGBTQ youth, develop and perform in a skit on domestic violence, and is now working on a degree project involved murals. According to President Jane Sanders, "Jen is constantly asking critical questions, delving deeper, finding collaborative solutions, improving community and effecting postive change."

Sean Carroll, Green Mountain College
Through his role as president of the Poultney Partners Program, Sean has demonstrated his investment to education. He has been involved with recruitment, training, and planning that has helped Green Mountain students mentor over 40 children at Poultney Elementary School. President Jack Brennan described Sean's work at Green Mountain College, "Sean has proven his dedication to service on campus and off.. He is a bright leader, a skilled facilitator, and a valued member of our small community."

Kara Casey, Johnson State College
Kara has been actively involved with Johnson's Center for Service-Learning. As a co-leader for the Women's Issues alternative break trip, she organized yearlong campus programming around women's issues and led a group of participants on an alternative break to a women's domestic violence shelter in Albany New York. She is also a co-founder of the Womyn's Center at Johnson, a participant and site leader on multiple alternative break trips, an intern with Vermont Cares, and an America Reads volunteer.

Ariel Delaney, Castleton State College
From Castleton, VT to Nicaragua, Ariel has been dedicated to serving others. Ariel has been active with Project Chacocente in Nicaragua, including participating in alternative break trip for the past two years and returning this past summer as a volunteer teacher/ mentor. This year, Ariel helped to plan the alternative break trip to New Orleans. She is also a volunteer at Castleton Middle School

Denise Dunbar, Goddard College
Denise has helped to develop anti-oppression work for her local community as the volunteer coordinator for Chittenden County Reading to End Racism. Since she began 3 years ago, more than 1000 elementary school children have benefited from this interactive literacy program. A former AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Vermont Out of School Time network, Denise also leads a discussion session titled "Is Race Real? From "colorblindness" to "color talk."

Amanda Gilman, Lyndon State College
Amanda has been committed to violence and bullying prevention on both a local and statewide level. She created and implemented a curriculum a violence prevention program in her hometown. After being crowned Miss Vermont USA, she has promoted her platform at the statewide level and worked to draft legislation to help protect Vermont students. She has also been a member of the Green Mountain United Way marketing committee since age 16.

Erica Goodman, Middlebury College
Service has been an integral part of Erica's four years at Middlebury. As a co-chair of the Volunteers Service Organization, she has organized weekly volunteer opportunities for other students. She developed a relationship with the Middlebury Area Land Trust and has helped to recruit volunteers and organize their annaul fundraiser. As a player on the women's basketball team, she worked with her coach and teammates to create a National Bone Marrow program registry in Vermont. Whether through work with student groups and independently, Erica has exemplified service leadership in the community.

Elizabeth Hall, University of Vermont
Elizabeth has played a critical role in community service and service-learning program at the University of Vermont. She is the Director of Programs for Volunteers of Action, an umbrella program of 16 student-run service programs. She also serves as the Program Assistant at the Community-University Partnerships and Service-learning office, where she has worked on many projects, including helping to infuse service-learning into the History department (her own major). Elizabeth has helped to promote service at the statewide level through her role as a Vermont Campus Compact student consultant.

Crystal Harvey, Southern Vermont College
Crystal has embraced her role as the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters site coordinator at the SVC campus. She has helped with recruiting, training, planning activities, and leading discussions to help make this a successful program at the SVC campus. Julie Krawczyk describes Crystal's impact as a mentor, "Her natural instinct, concern for disadvantaged youth, and consistent nurturing of the relationship between mentor and mentee has made the BBBS program thrive at SVC...She has recruited some of most unlikely students to serve as mentors and made a profound impact on elementary students."

Jean Hopkins, Woodbury College
Jean has been involved in the community in a myriad of ways. She is on the Board of Directors of the Vermont League of Women Votes, a member of the Williston Interfaith Affordable Housing Task Force, and involved with the Burlington Co-housing projects. Through her coursework at Woodbury, Jean is helping to prevent the incarceration of women and to increase participation at Town Meeting Day.

Melissa Mucha, Vermont Technical College
Melissa has been an active volunteer in the Randolph community since arriving on campus three years ago. She is an America Reads tutor, a drop-in assistant with the Boys and Girls Club, an active member of Habitat for Humanity, and involved with organizing VTC's alternative break trip this spring. According to Ty Handy, "Her willingness to take on a variety of leadership roles has helped to make the college and the community of Randolph a better place. She truly exemplifies the spirit of community service to college and the community."

Jill Pfenning, Vermont Law School
Previously a public school teacher, where she coordinated an "International Week" and advised a Cultural Awareness Council, Jill is now involved with issues of diversity at the campus and community level. Through the Students for Community Outreach and Education (SCORE), she organized a group of Vermont Law students of diverse backgrounds to do presentations on issues of diversity at the South Royalton elementary schools. She is also a member of the Diversity Committee at Vermont Law School.

Kimberly Sorber, Norwich University
Kimberly has emerged as a service leader at Norwich University though her role as her campus Habitat for Humanity Chapter president, where she has helped to organize fundraisers, recruit staff, faculty, and students for local building projects, and coordinate a spring service break to New Orleans. As President Richard Schneider notes, "This group is by far the quickest growing service-related organization on campus and it is in large part due to this fine woman's commitment to service."

Joshua Warren, Champlain College
In his two years at Champlain, Joshua has shown tremendous energy and dedication toward service efforts. He was one of the founding members of the Champlain's DREAM mentoring program and his energy has helped this program grow. Through the GetREAL community service club, he has worked with many different community projects and engaged other students in service. He was active both in hurricane relief efforts and for fundraising to support local community partners affected by this natural disaster. President David Finney describes his energy and commitment, "He makes everything he touches fun. He thinks of everyone before himself and make the most mundane activity feel important."

Antje Winter, Community College of Vermont
Through her service-learning courses, Antje has worked to improve the schools in her local community. Projects include researching the school lunch program at her daughter's middle school and presenting her findings and recommendations to school administration and other projects with her local schools. She has helped to educate others on service-learning through regional presentations. She is also involved with youth through her role as a coach with the "Run Girl Run" fitness program for the local middle school

Ryan Woods, Saint Michael's College
Ryan has involved himself fully in service throughout his college career at Saint Michael's College. He has helped to coordinate extended service trips, volunteer programs at the senior's center, and the annual Senior Citizen Prom, He has been an active volunteer with many other programs, including a service trip in New Orleans, Little Brother/ Little Sister, blood drives, and many others, while serving his campus through Student Government. President vanderHeyden speaks of the breadth of his involvement, "His willingness to get involved with service to multiple communities speaks highly of his deeper understanding of citizenship and what it requires of him."

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Madeleine M. Kunin Public Service Award:
This award recognizes one VCC member student for their outstanding public service through a spectrum of efforts. Through their leadership, the recipient demonstrates a linkage of their service to a larger social context and a commitment to community impact. The recipient of this award has demonstrated a deep sense of civic responsibility and leadership, evidenced by initiative, innovative approaches to community issues, and effective community building.

Award Winner:

Jamila A Headley, Saint Michael's College
Volunteering became a part of Jamila's life in her home country of Barbados, but does not end there. Her repertoire is extensive, as can be seen by her dedication to public service at not only the local level, but also the national and international levels. Jamila has been dedicated AIDS activism in many different ways, from advocating, leading workshops, and fundraising with Student Global AIDS Campaign, an international service trip to Tanzania with MOVE (Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts) International, research and advocacy in her home country, and working with the Black AIDS Institute.

Jamila has also been involved in many other ways, including serving in Sri Lanka with tsunami relief efforts for three months and then working with the village to village project to raise funds for educational areas, volunteering in New Orleans over winter break, and assisting with the Vermont-Israel-Arab Peace Project. A professor of Jamila's wrote, "Jamila has made a conscious decision to devote her time and energy outweard, to the near-constant project of making the world a better place. She has the level of maturity and a drive to ameliorate human suffering that is far beyond her years."

Finalists

Marie Brunton, Community College of Vermont
A junior, human services major at the Community College of Vermont, Marie Brunton is relentless in her promotion of livable wages. As an intern at the Peace and Justice center, through a Community and Work Experience course, Marie dedicated her time to the Vermont Livable Wage Campaign, which was highlighted by her involvement with the Burlington Support Staff Livable Wage Campaign. "Marie's willingness to advocate on behalf of local school workers reflects her growing commitment to social justice and standing up for fellow workers." Though her internship is completed, her work as an advocate of livable wages is not.

Erin Caswell, Champlain College
Erin has been an active service leader at Champlain College.. As a junior she became the co-founder of an initiative to bring the DREAM program, one in which college students become mentors to young children, to Champlain College. Erin also proposed, planned, and organized Champlain College's Tent City Homelessness Awareness Project that took place in November, 2005. "…she will leave an astonishing legacy of leadership, compassion and activism that is the first of its kind at Champlain. She has set the bar for future service endeavors and leaders."

Kelly Hayes, University of Vermont
Kelly Hayes has been active with several-learning in Vermont communities and internationally.. She has completed several service-learning courses, and has been a teaching assistant for many others. Kelly's involvement with the town of Starksboro evolved from her work as a teaching assistant for a service-learning course, and did not end with its completion. "When Kelly works on a service-learning project, she is not only a teaching assistant who represents UVM, but I feel that she is a true partner; she cares deeply about the projects she is leading both domestically and internationally, and she throws herself full-force into meaningful community work."

Russ Hoermann, Woodbury College
Russ is a veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq, and actively helping families of veterans and veterans of the Iraq war through the Iraq War Veteran's Family Project. "He is committed to helping to build the community of soldiers who often consider the seeking help as antithetical to their status as a warrior." Through his dedication to veterans and their families, Russ has worked to provide them not only with more access to information, but also with emotional support. "Russ has continued to show his dedication, compassion and concern for the well-being of others through civic engagement and public service beyond his service in the Army Reserves.

Katelyn Hudson, Vermont Technical College
Only in her first year, Katelyn Hudson has been involved on campus and in the community.. Through her work with the Campus Center Committee, she provides a female viewpoint and makes sure that VTC is a friendly environment for female students. Katelyn has also applied the Girl Scout emphasis on service to help others in her community, aiding in two kindergarten classes at the local elementary school and acting as an assistant leader of two Girl Scout troops. "She speaks about her involvement with the Girl Scout community with an incredible amount of passion. Her level of political awareness is rare in a person her age."

Jamie Lynn Maynard, Norwich University
Jamie Lynn Maynard is an active presence both on and off campus. As a co-founder of Norwich University's Service-Learning Scholars, she embodies the ideals of service learning - "The foundation she has built for the Scholars will enable the team to operate long after Jamie has graduated." Jamie is equally as active in the greater community, co-founding the volunteer run bingo program at the Waterbury Area Senior Center. She also volunteers her time with the Battered Women's Services and Shelter, acting as a hotline crisis mediator and attending court hearings.

Matt McGetrick
Although only a sohpomore, Matt McGetick has emerged as a dynamic leader involved in the community in many different ways. He has been a dedicated mentor with Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and is currently serving as the Student Service director. Matt has connected his academic background in communication to his community work through designing advertements for fundraisers for community organizations and airing free public serving announcements for nonprofit organizations. Sigrid Solomon, Dean of Students, says "He has flourished, emerged, and excelled as leader…He is truly committed to doing good."

Mary Mendoza, Middlebury College
Throughout her four years at Middlebury, Mary has been proactive about issues of importance to her. An advisor writes, "As long as I have known Mary, she has been willing to incorporate her incredible energy to her direct service work and taking to on leadership responsibilities. She has an ability to motivate and encourage others to take action." Her initiatives include helping to restructure volunteer service programs at Middlebury College, numerous direct service projects such as raising money to put together food baskets for ACCAG and collecting clothing for refugees in the Burlington area, as well as participation in "Building Community through Dialogue" at Middlebury College.

Christina Prew and Maria Teixeira, Johnson State College
Christina Prew and Maria Teixeira have both individually and jointly contribute to issues of concern in Johnson State College community, as well as matters of state and national significance. "In the Center for Service Learning we try to encourage our students to move towards Active Citizenship. Christina and Maria are students who embody it…They are strong and inspiring women who approach each and every person, conversation, project, and challenge that they encounter as an opportunity to have a positive impact on the world."

Dona Turek, Castleton State College
As a distinctive leader on campus and president of Castleton's Science Association, Dona initiated the creation of the Math and Science Honor Society - Sigma Zeta. She is highly involved in and outside of the community, as a First Responder/ Emergency Care Attendant and member of the Poultney Rescue Squad, and as a Personal Care Assistant for two young boys in her community. "Dona is a young leader that is fiercely determined and academically strong."

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Campus/ Community Partnership Awards

Engaged Community Partner Award:
This award is given to one community partner per VCC member campus that has worked with a campus to develop and sustain a lasting partnership. Community partners are vital to addressing critical needs in the community and this award is intended to recognize a community partner who is fully engaged with the campus community. Each campus may select one community partner for this award.

Buffalo Mountain School (Sterling College)
The Buffalo Mountain School serves students attending an alternative school setting. Sterling students and Buffalo Mountain School created a proposal, developed a curriculum and delivered what is called, 'The Adventure Curriculum'. This curriculum is designed to help youth acquire coping skills, motivation, and positive social skills. This project demonstrates the importance of "grass roots" evolution of community partnerships.

Castleton Elementary School (Castleton State College)
Castleton Elementary School and Castleton State College are in the first year of a three-year continuing program called Vermont Scholars. Their goal is to increase Castleton college students' knowledge and experience by beginning a mentoring program through which college students meet to guide and encourage elementary school students. The hope is to help those same students learn to set high, yet attainable goals for themselves and to encourage students to begin thinking, planning and preparing for college at a very early age, so they are prepared educationally and emotionally for higher education experiences.

Central Vermont New Directions (Woodbury College)
CVND is a community coalition that strives to prevent youth substance use and promote positive youth development. Working with the Prevention and Community Development Program at Woodbury College, the partnership collaborates to gather meaningful data, focus attention and look for solutions to prevent drug use among young people in central Vermont.

Committee on Temporary Shelter (Saint Michael's College)
COTS provides emergency shelter, services, and housing for people who are without homes or who are marginally housed. COTS advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness. Their collaboration with Saint Michael's college spans several years. Student leaders from St. Mike's have worked with COTS case managers to establish a regular schedule of serving and enjoying a meal with the resident at St. John's Hall, have participated in the annual COTS Phone-a-thon and COTS Walk fundraisers.

Clarina Howard Nichols Center- (Johnson State College)
The Clarina Howard Nichols Center has been a valuable partner to the college in helping to train students on issues of domestic and sexual violence and create awareness about these important issues. Over 300 students have become certified to work in domestic violence shelters, including students who recently went on an alternative spring break to a Women's center in Albany, NY. In turn, Johnson students have become reliable volunteers and worked with the Clarina Howard Nichols Center to create education and advocacy events on campus.

Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity (Goddard College)
Through the support of Habitat of Humanity, students, faculty, and staff were able to serve over 1000 hours in Mississippi and support community-based rebuilding efforts, incorporate their service into their individualized study plans, and use this experience to help reflect and deepen their commitment to personal growth and societal change. "Our work with Habitat was a powerful catylyst that deepened Goddard's longstanding commitment to purposeful service-learning in the community."

King Street Youth Center (University of Vermont)
Students at the University of Vermont have been able to participate in service-learning opportunities in at the King Street Youth Center through several different departments. There has been a six-year partnership with faculty in the English Department to help teach literacy to students. In a new partnership, Sociology service-learning classes learn valuable skills while helping the King Street Youth Center with program evaluation. The King Street youth center actively works with University of Vermont in many other ways, including hosting interns, serving on advisory committees and delivering guest lectures to University of Vermont classes.

Orange Southwest Supervisory Union- (Vermont Technical College)
Vermont Technical College has been able to partner with each the five public schools in the Orange Southwest Supervisory Union to help impact the campus and community. The elementary schools has opened their schools to tutors from Vermont Technical College while Vermont Technical students have been able to serve as mentors at the high school and Career Center. Kirsten Hatten describes the impact that tutoring can have a Vermont Technical College Student. " The elementary school becomes a haven…The children shower them with positive attention and make them feel appreciated."

People of Addison County Together (Middlebury College)
P.A.C.T. works in concert with individuals and organizations to improve the well-being of Addison County residents. It acts as a planning and connecting forum, provides data on community needs and successes, serves as an incubator for new projects and promotes interagency and intergenerational cooperation. Together with the Alliance for Civic Engagement office at Middlebury College, the organization is involving the students at Middlebury college in dialog that identifies and alleviates poverty in Addison county

Peace and Justice Center (Community College of Vermont)
The Peace & Justice Center is a Vermont-based non-profit, membership organization. Their mission is to work for the creation of a just, peaceful, and ecologically healthy world through education, advocacy, training, & non-violent activism. Specifically, the Livable Wage campaign and the Community College of Vermont through their coursework have raised awareness regarding why a fair and livable wage is crucial to the health and well-being of a community.

Poultney Historical Society (Green Mountain College)
The Poultney Historical Society has helped to create numerous service-learning opportunities for Green Mountain College. One recent project enlisted a Green Mountain College chemistry class to research the vials of a mid-nineteenth century doctor's kit to create a display for Vermont History Expo. This and many other projects have helped students learn historical perspectives while designing displays and augment collections that educate the local community.

United Counseling Services (Big Brothers/ Big Sisters), Southern Vermont College
United Counseling Services houses the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters program for the Bennington community and has a satellite office on the Souther Vermont College campus.. Through this partnership, Southern Vermont College students can participate in internships, service-learning classes to plan the annual fudraiser, Bowl for Kids Sake, and mentoring relationships that can help promote youth and healthy relationships.

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Campus/Community Partnership Award:
This award is given to recognize a Campus/Community partnership that works together in a mutually beneficial way that produces measurable improvements in people's lives and enhances learning in the process. Campus/Community partnerships are vital to addressing critical needs in the community and this award is intended to highlight an exemplary partnership that has contributed to the campus as well as the community.

Award Winner

Central Vermont Community Partnership/ Woodbury College Prevention and Community Development Program
The Partnership between Central Vermont Community Partnership/ Woodbury College Prevention and Community Development Program has taken several forms since it was formed seven years ago. CVCP has benefited from the many internships, service-learning projects, and collaborative community events sponsored by Woodbury College. Woodbury staff and student have increased CVCP's capacity to inform, design and implement local strategies to connect citizens, state and community-based professionals in a shared effort to achieve Vermont's ten outcomes for well-being. The partnership has enhanced central Vermont's work towards supporting youth in making healthy choices, facilitating the civic engagement of people on many different levels, creating a continuum of substance abused services and supports, developing guidelines for family support practices, and creating resource materials for outreach programs.

CVCP and Woodbury College recently expanded their work to incorporate a "Turn the Curve" project that adds even more definition to the partnership; students are exploring their personal interests while working together towards the same community goal: to reduce the number of women who are incarcerated.

Award Finalists

Lamoille Valley Mentoring Partnership/ Johnson State College
Lamoille Valley Mentoring Partnership and Johnson State College work together to provide college students at Johnson State College an opportunity to be role models for children in the community. LVMP makes it possible for small schools' and organizations' mentoring programs to remain staffed while simultaneously incorporating the importance of civic engagement as a citizen outcome for college students in Vermont.

People of Addison County Together/ United Way of Addison County, and Middlebury College
The People of Addison County Together, the United Way of Addison County, and the Alliance for Civic Engagement at Middlebury College, a tri-partnership, work together to bring real solutions to Addison County. Best illustrated by this quote, PACT/UWAC/Middlebury College demonstrate that "It is by working together, that this partnership has gained the support of the community to solve real needs while simultaneously offering meaningful learning experiences to students and faculty through internships, independent projects, and service-learning classes."

Poultney High School/ Castleton State College
College students from Professor Terry Bergen's class are turning the culture of limited expectations to those of hope, optimism and mutual respect by sharing their energy, enthusiasm and idealism through the context of service-learning coursework within the Psychology department at Castleton State College.

Shelburne Farms/ the PLACE Program/ University of Vermont
The PLACE program is a program designed for officials, residents and landowners, and for teachers interested in incorporating the local landscape into their classroom. PLACE is a collaboration of the University of Vermont and Shelburne Farms to provide communities with an innovative, new model for placed-based education. It utilizes an integrated series of workshops, fieldwork, lectures, and printed resources to help communities examine and interpret the landscape of a town and its transformation over time.

Winooski School System, JFK Elementary, Winooski Middle School/ Saint Michael's College
The Big Brother/Big Sister Program and Middle School Mentors demonstrate successful win-win partnerships that involve elementary, junior high and college students from St. Mike's in Winooski Vermont. Collaborations involve service-learning, classroom reflections, working with diverse cultures and a growing knowledge of our global community in Vermont.

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Excellence in Teaching
This award is given to one faculty 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 action research, a commitment to student voice and development, and inclusion of community voice and partnership. One of the letters of nomination must come from a student.

Award Winners

Peter Nelson, Assistant Professor of Geography at Middlebury College.
Pete has regularly taught two geography courses that typically involve service-learning pedagogy: Place and Society: Local to Global and Rural Geography. These courses have involved mutually beneficial projects where students worked with such organizations as Middlebury Area Land Trust, Monument Farms Dairy, The Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, Planned Parenthood, and Addison County Community Action Group. Pete has demonstrated a strong commitment to having his students learn course material through "real world" connections and to meeting local needs through these efforts." -- Tiffany Sargent, Director, Alliance for Civic Engagement Office, Middlebury College

"His assigned projects are innovative, addressing real-world situations and including actual field research; such experiences are unique in an undergraduate setting….He incorporates social awareness and activism into each course, giving each student the opportunity for experiential learning. He is among the most effective and committed professors I've met." -- Philip Picotte, Class of 2008, Middlebury College

Michael Ohler, Instructor of Humanities, Community College of Vermont
An instructor of Humanities, English, Sociology, and Community and Work Experience at the Community College of Vermont for over five years, he has successfully incorporated service-learning into all of his courses. Whether preparing lunch for the COTS day visitors, interviewing a homeless veteran or observing how a place always says something about how people there care for one another, CCV students in Michael's classes connect their academic learning to the real issues we face as members of neighborhoods and communities.

Reflecting on her service-learning work with the homeless, student Jessica Owens writes, "…Michael understands that we are not so different from these people. He knows that these people are neighbors, friends and family. He understands that we, at some point in our lives, may need to depend on the charity of others. This is the most important thing that I have learned from him." In addition, she writes, "Michael respects his students. He places as much value on the knowledge and experience his students bring to class, as he does on his own teaching. ….I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to learn from Michael in a way that has both enriched and expanded my personal views on life."

Award Finalists

Daniel Baker, Community Development and Applied Economics, University of Vermont
Professor Baker integrates service-learning into his courses to provide his students with real world opportunities to apply knowledge learned in the classroom, both in Vermont and Honduras. "Dan's enthusiasm, dedication, and belief in service-learning have fostered student growth and development and INTEREST in sustainable development. Almost single handedly, Dan Baker has helped student majors in Community and International Development grow from 6 five years ago to 55 today."

Rowland Brucken, History, Norwich University
"Through direct classroom observation, I have witnessed Rowly transform sleepy-eyed students into passionate spokesmen around issues of political relevance; I have seen, firsthand, how his teaching style has inspired and enabled his students to take an active role in their own learning. I have also met many students who - after having participated in one of Rowly's service-learning classes - commit themselves to a social cause or a servant leadership role within our community." --Nicole DiDomenico, Director of Volunteer Programs, Norwich University

Senator William Doyle, Political Science, Johnson State College
For decades, he has brought the world of public affairs to campus, and has sent highly engaged Johnson State students into the wider, Vermont world. Recently, students in his Vermont History and Government class performed an oral-history-through-film project, which resulted in the documentary, Life in Lamoille: Stories from Vermont's Youngest County. This highly popular and engaging documentary tells the stories of 12 longtime residents of the 12 towns in Lamoille County and reflects on how people lived, farmed, kept their food, and enjoyed themselves in the years before electricity and contemporary life.

Adrie Kusserow, Anthropology and Sociology, Saint Michael's College
Her teaching and research include social class studies in New York, refugee communities in Vermont, as well as work in Uganda, India and Nepal. "As an anthropologist, Adrie encourages her students to look at even our most innate behaviors in a different way, making it impossible for me to return to my former, somewhat self-centered and naïve way of thinking….I feel deeply fortunate to know her as both a mentor and professor, and I am continuously inspired to be a better person simply by the desire to emulate her. She has welcomed the Sudanese refugees into our community with open arms and has moved me to do the same."
Maggie Colacchio, student, Saint Michael's College

Maryann McDonough, Nursing, Castleton State College
It was always her goal to enhance the second year community clinical experience by taking nursing beyond the typical setting and bringing it to the neighborhood. Her mantra became, "The bedside has left the building." --Susan Farrell, Chair, CSC Nursing Department

Nancy Murray, General Education, Vermont Technical College
Students in Nancy Murray's U.S. History in the 1960s class plan and implement a "Woodstack Festival" on campus, a creative approach to teaching and learning that moves classroom learning into the larger area of community involvement. As student Danielle Pepin writes, "This integrated and collaborative effort has left me with more than random facts about the sixties; I now have firsthand experience with the spirit of the times. Facts may fade, but thanks to Ms. Murray, I am experiencing something unforgettable."

Dana Shelit, Prevention and Community Development, Woodbury College
" The impact that her teaching has made on the community and students is to go for your cause and continue to work, live, and do what is right….Dana gives you the spirit, determination, and guidance not to forget the tools so that the student will go out and make a diffence each and every day…Her students in this program develop skills needed for family support, addictions prevention, community development, health outreach and working with the community groups and coalitions. " Russ Hoermann, Student, Woodbury College

Elaine Young, Marketing and E-Business Program, Business Division, Champlain College
Elaine Young integrates service-learning and community engagement into her Nonprofit and Social Marketing Class. Days after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Elaine asked students in her class if they would like to focus their class on relief efforts. They answered a resounding YES and Elaine revamped her entire syllabus to integrate marketing theory and strategies with urgent and needed fund-raising and education efforts.

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Engaged Scholar:
This award honors one faculty for his/her engagement both in and outside the classroom. This award recognizes an innovative use of service in scholarship, commitment to students and communities, and work with engaged campus-community partnerships. Through their leadership, the recipient has made valuable contributions to the service-learning field and serves as an exemplar of faculty citizenship to students, faculty, and staff.

Award Winner:

Jonathan Isham, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics and the Program in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College
Jon's blend of teaching, scholarship and service epitomizes the Engaged Scholar. From the nomination letter written by Susan Campbell, Dean of the Faculty at Middlebury College:
" For a lifetime Professor Jon Isham has been on the leading edge of working with communities to recognize internal strengths in order to affect positive change. In the last few years, particularly, Jon has worked tirelessly to create new energy toward building a climate change movement. The role model he has provided for students and colleagues, alike, locally, nationally, and even internationally, has been nothing less than outstanding. His choices in and out of the classroom all echo his passion and commitment, particularly in light of the awesome awareness that the clock is ticking. Jon is getting things done, and perhaps even more importantly, he is empowering students to find their voice and take action to affect positive change on their own.
Acknowledging the importance of a variety of approaches, Jon has been able to imbed his methodology in both traditional forms of teaching, research, and public writing, while also creating mutually beneficial service-learning opportunities that help students learn course material through community connections that also meet real needs."

Award Finalists

Terry Bergen, Professor of Psychology, Castleton State College
In Terry's courses, students develop skills as behavior management specialists by applying the principles of applied behavior analysis to school-related behavior problems in the Poultney school system.
Student, Lisa Edge, says of Terry, "He is able to motivate students daily to take what they have learned in these halls to serve the community."

Susan Clark, Faculty, Prevention and Community Development Program, Woodbury College
"In addition to her work in the community and her research and writing, Ms. Clark has integrated students into community-based projects. She is now engaging students in a focus on Town Meeting, and partnering with Central Vermont communities to promote diverse citizen participation. "
--Lawrence Mandell, President, Woodbury College

Paul Dragon, Instructor, Humanities, Community College of Vermont
"If I could clone Paul, I would, knowing that his influence in effecting positive change multiplies outward by tenfold every time he teaches the Peace and Turmoil class. He is a quiet hero, understated and steadfastly true to a vision of a better world that he has the conviction and patience to change, one person at a time."
--Dee Steffan, Coordinator of Academic Services, History and Humanities, CCV

Patricia Siplon, Associate Professor of Political Science, Saint Michael's College
Patricia is honored for her sustained successful initiatives in drawing her students into active learning on subjects of national and international significance, such as the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. "Her scholarship work is complemented by her active engagement with policy issues providing a model to her students of active citizenship and intellectual engagement."
--William E. Wilson, Provost.Vice President for Academic Affairs, Saint Michael's College
" …her impact on my academic and personal development will be something that I will carry with me forever." -Erin McDonnell, Senior, Saint Michael's College

John Stevens, Professor of Civil Engineering, Norwich University.
"In addition to providing quality teaching to our students, Professor Stevens is one of the original members of the Service Learning Committee at Norwich and yearly he has incorporated community service and service-learning in his senior design projects and his freshman introductory Civil Engineering courses. "
-- Dennis Tyner, Head, The David Crawford School of Engineering, Norwich University

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Campus Leadership for Civic Engagement Award:
: This award recognizes one staff, faculty, or administrator on a VCC member campus for their work advancing public service on their campus. The award recognizes someone who has worked towards the institutionalization of service, created and strived towards a vision of service and/or civic engagement on their campus, supported faculty and students, and formed innovative campus-community partnerships.

Award Winner:

Joseph Mark, Castleton State College
Academic Dean of Castleton State College, Dr. Joseph Mark, is in his 26th year of leadership. "Our college would not have made such significant and enduring progress in engaging our students were it not for Joe Mark's pervasive and positive influence on the quality of academic and student life across campus." Under Dr. Mark's guidance, service-learning and civic engagement have flourished at Castleton; the American Democracy Project and the First Year Seminar Program attract faculty and students alike. "His strong leadership has provided opportunities for our students and faculty to learn in, about and from our community."

Award Finalists

Kathleen Balutansky, Saint Michael's College
Dr. Kathleen Balutansky is the Assoicate Dean for Academic Affairs at Saint Michael's College. As a professor of English and Global Studies, she offered a service-learning course that brought both her students and MOVE students to Haiti. Since her appointment to the position of Associate Dean, she has been an avid supporter of an academic enrichment initiative, including overseeing the creation of Saint Michael's first service-learning office and having an Americorps VISTA organize service-learning efforts. "The service-learning movement at Saint Michael's College would still be just a discussion if it wasn't for the charisma, hard work, communication, commitment and strong determination of Kathie Balutansky."

Mel Donovan, Community College of Vermont
In 2000, Mel Donovan became the Director of Student Support Services at the Community College of Vermont. "Mel is the engine behind civic engagement and service learning at CCV." Her leadership on the Community College of Vermont's civic engagement committee has enhanced the quality and work of civic engagement and service. In her four years as director, Mel has instilled the significance of service-learning in the faculty, staff, and students of CCV, and, concurrently, service-learning opportunities are now an important component in the curriculum.

Michael Van Dyke, Vermont Technical College
Mike Van Dyke is the Dean of the College at Vermont Technical College. He is the primary force that helped create and advises the Vermont Technical College First Responders. Not only has Mike successfully motivated students to be involved, but he also provided a service to the Vermont Technical College community and a sense of safety and security. Through participation on the Randolph Union High School school board, he has built strong relationships with community members, as well. "He is an active member of the Vermont Tech community and is always encouraging students to be involved."

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Questions?? Please contact John Coutley