“Learning Through Service” theme of next program

SUNY Fredonia will continue its series which teaches students and the campus as a whole about the importance of community involvement. On Tuesday, April 21 at 2 p.m., the Office of Volunteer and Community Services will host “Engaging in Our Community: Learning through Service” in room S104 of the Williams Center. The event is free and open to the public.

The program, which will feature a panel of faculty and staff members representing various campus areas, is designed to recognize the accomplishments and progress of students, faculty and community partners in service learning, while raising awareness about future volunteer opportunities as well.

According to the Office of Volunteer and Community Services, during the current academic year, Fredonia students have performed over 9,550 hours of community service thus far, ranging from volunteering at local soup kitchens, raking leaves throughout the community; tutoring and mentoring children, running campus donation drives, and participating in fundraisers such as the Aids Walk, Out of Darkness Walk, Sing for a Cure, Operation Breakfast Rescue and many more.

Featured panelists will include faculty members Michael Jabot and Helen Reddy from the School of Education, Rebecca Conti from Department of Mathematical Sciences, Emily VanDette from the Department of English, Kim Weborg-Benson from the Department of Geosciences, and Anand Perala, who serves as the campus’ Americorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) volunteer through the Office of Campus Life. The panel will be moderated by David Rankin from the Department of Political Science, and the event is being chaired by Joyce Harvard Smith, coordinator of the Office of Volunteer and Community Services.

Volunteer and Community Services enables students to obtain real-world experience while helping others. The program aims to involve students with the community to work together as a team and learn from one another. The “Engaging Our Community” series identifies and builds college and community partnerships, enhances cultural and economic connections, and fosters civic responsibility. Service learning allows students to contribute to the community while gaining firsthand experience related to their coursework.