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Community Engagement Awards recognize outstanding Saint Francis University partnerships and individuals

Loretto, PA (04/23/2019) — The Saint Francis University Center for Service and Learning hosted the second annual "Become that Someone" Community Engagement Awards Breakfast on April 15, 2019. The event celebrated and recognized the University's distinguished community partners, faculty, staff, and students who have gone the extra length to be engaged with the community. The criteria for the awards are directed by the Carnegie Foundation's definition of community engagement: the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in the context of partnership and reciprocity.

Awards

The following awards were presented:

  • Engaged Community Partner: The Central PA Humane Society
  • Engaged Faculty Member: Dr. Kris Wisniewski, PT Department
  • Engaged Staff Member: Michael Sell, Institute for Energy (accepted by Dr. John Harris)
  • Engaged Student: George Ryan, B.S., Mathematics; B.A., Engineering; Minor, Physical Science

University President, the Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D. presented The Central PA Humane Society with the Engaged Community Partner award and shared some words from nominator Dr. Sholmit Flaisher-Grinberg who said, "This partnership allows our students to learn skills and develop potential. It allows the dogs to get a second chance in life and find loving "forever" homes. Every time I step into the classroom, I feel fortunate."

The Engaged Faculty Member award recognizes a faculty member for exemplary community engaged scholarship and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. This year's award winner was Dr. Kris Wisniewski, associate professor of exercise physiology in the Department of Physical Therapy. He is also the assistant director of the Human Performance Lab, and the Director of the Evergreen Exercise Clinic. Dr. Wisniewski has been said to have unmatched compassion and care, vast knowledge, and a way of teaching difficult concepts to students in a format that they can understand. Dr. Wisniewski was recognized namely for his work with the Evergreen Exercise Clinic and the Center for Rural Cancer Survivorship, as well as his work at St. Michael School.

Michael Sell was awarded the Engaged Staff Member Award for his work with local schools, teachers, and parents through a variety of programs offered through the Institute for Energy and the Science Outreach Center. Fittingly enough, he could not be present to accept the award because he was running science labs at Divine Mercy Catholic Academy in Johnstown, one of SFU's community partners.

The Engaged Student Award was presented to George Ryan for his tireless dedication to projects of the Center for Watershed Research & Service. Ryan will graduate this May with a B.S. in Mathematics, a B.A. in Engineering, and a minor in Physical Science. He is from Elma, New York, a suburb of outside of Buffalo.

100+ Service Hours Completed

While there was only one Engaged Student Award presented, the SFU student body is made up numerous community-engaged people. 68 students who have completed over 100 hours of community service during their time at SFU were awarded the first-ever Center for Service and Learning graduation adornment and were recognized for their achievement. Additional students will continue to volunteer their time towards completing over 100 hours before graduation and will be recognized.

Director of the Center for Service and Learning, Lisa Georgina, noted that the University's strategic plan, "calls for six transformational experiences for our students: Campus Ministry, Internships, Leadership, Student Research, Study Abroad, and Community Engagement & Service." Community engagement is just one of many elements to the University's approach to fostering students to become that someone.

Poster Presentations

Spring 2019 Community-Engaged Courses held student poster presentations in conjunction with the "Become that Someone" Community Engagement Awards. These poster presentations gives students, faculty, staff, and guests the opportunity to explore the impactful work that is happening across campus and in the community. Information was presented by students from over ten courses and programs including.

Media Attachments

Awards presented from left to right: Engaged Community Partner, Engaged Student, and Engaged Faculty Member.

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