Engaged Magazine Fall 2017

Office of Civic Engagement | Allegheny Gateway Volume 5, Issue 2 • Fall 2017

ENGAGED

Global Citizen Scholars PAGE 2

EDITOR’S LET TER Office of Civic Engagement Allegheny Gateway Volume 5, Issue 2 • Fall 2017

ENGAGED TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

1

Service by the Numbers

2 Global Citizen Scholars 5

Youth in Service

6

Ellie Davies Cherished the Student-Service Experience

8

Volunteer Spotlight: Adele Gilman

10 Student Awards and Honors 11 Faculty Spotlight:

Dr. Lisa Whitenack 12 Alternative Spring Break Spotlight 14 Athletes Engage With

the Community 16 ASB 2017: Break’s Up!

In the fall 2017 issue of Engaged magazine, you will read about the great work that Allegheny students, staff, faculty and local residents are doing in their communities. A common thread among them is what inspires them to serve. As you read through the stories, you will see that our volunteers get involved because they truly want to help others. A shining example of this is the beloved Ellie Davies, who passed away in May 2017, leaving behind a long legacy of civic vitality. She will live on as an inspiration to us all.

Another thread found throughout this issue is the realization that although service is usually considered something we do for others, there is a lot to be gained as well. Our paradigm of service is that it is reciprocal; we give and receive. Please read on to learn how our community-minded movers and shakers have developed deep relationships with people and places — and a better understanding of themselves and their capabilities.

A final thread we see emerge is that service can be fun! According to our featured volunteers, the way to make that happen is to figure out what type of service fits well with your interests.

As long as you find a project that makes your heart sing, you will have a blast! Any member of the Civic Engagement staff at Allegheny would be thrilled to help you find the perfect project among the many available. Just stop by our office in the Pelletier burgundy node and let the fun begin! Once you start, you’ll soon #BecomeTheChange — which is at the core of everything offered by the Allegheny Gateway.

Mariana Silva AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator Cover: Global Citizen Scholars gather on the steps of Vive La Casa, a shelter for asylum seekers preparing for permanent residency in Canada.

Editorial Support: Jennifer Kessner

Service by the Numbers 2016-17 SERVICE SATURDAYS

2016-17 STUDENT-ATHLETE PARTICIPATION IN SERVICE

 

1,449 hours of service 340 students 90 projects

1,753 hours of service 241 students

YOUTH SERVICE CORPS

SERVICE LEADERS

 

500+ hours of service 79 volunteers 30 projects

87 students leaders 36 community agencies

SENIOR CITIZENS ON CAMPUS FOR RECOGNITION DAY ON APRIL 19:

 185

Global Citizen Scholars:

Inset: Global Citizens Scholar Troy Elphinstone assists refugees in preparing for job interviews during plunge experience in Erie, March 4, 2017. Above: Global Citizen Scholars gather on the steps of Vive La Casa, a shelter for asylum seekers preparing for permanent residency in Canada.

4 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

When Global Learning Starts in the Local Joseph Merante ’20, Laura Reeck and Dave Roncolato ’79 contributed to this article.

T

he Global Citizen Scholars Program began in fall 2016.

Congruent with the mission of the Allegheny Gateway, the program provides students with unique learning opportunities in three areas: civic engagement, global learning and U.S. diversity. The philosophy behind the program is that these areas combine to inform a global and committed citizenry who can think outside the box.

Built on integrative learning, the program bridges the curricular and the co-curricular, all while encouraging students to engage with diverse communities and cultures — not as passive observers, but as mindful participants. The aim of the program is to allow students to acquire the skills and competencies to make sensible and sensitive decisions with contextual understanding in community as well as in their future professional life.

Initial funding for the program was provided by Joe Palmiero and Linda Allison Palmiero ’66.

It is sometimes assumed that global learning requires engagement with a distant location, but our recent involvement in a new program at Allegheny College has shown that it can begin fruitfully in the local.

When asked why students chose to apply to the program, virtually all of them said that it was the “global” aspect in name and dimension that attracted their attention.

But what surprised most of them about the first semester was their civic engagement work in Meadville and how this had become a defining anchor for them: students participated in reading and world languages (French and Spanish) programs in the elementary schools, after-school programs, local agencies and foundations, community centers and a soup kitchen. In our class meetings, we surveyed Meadville’s history and demographics; we read The Meadville Tribune; and we hosted a panel of local actors around the theme of “collective impact.” In other words, our initial focus was squarely on the local and “place-making.”

Then we went further by coupling “place” with “displacement,” specifically by a plunge weekend spent at the Vive La Casa shelter for asylum-seekers in Buffalo, New York.

In this way, “place-making” was disrupted through the stories refugees told about what pushed them out of their home countries, where they left behind family, friends and employment. In sum, the whole of the first year was about “place-making,” which is transferable (or could we say “transnational”) and can meaningfully be scaled out from the local to the global.

Erin Zehr is one of 14 students who this past year has embraced the Global Citizen Scholars Program at the College. She sees herself as being “a person deeply interested

continued on page 4

Above: Sherrell Daley, Global Citizens Scholar, assists refugees with online job searches during plunge experience in Erie, March 4, 2017.

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 3

GLOBAL CITIZEN SCHOLARS continued from page 3 in community and justice studies.”

So when the sophomore saw an opportunity to connect her academic interests to an all-encompassing program that would help her develop a global perspective, she applied immediately.

“I saw the program as a great opportunity to build connections across my areas of focus and give more meaning to my interests,” says Zehr, who is from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“One of the stated goals which attracted me to the program was to synthesize many of the things that students were already learning and doing on campus in a more intentional and meaningful way.”

After a year of participating, Zehr has found the program to be perfect for accomplishing what she has set out to do at Allegheny.

“I have recently begun remarking to those around me that I feel that

many of my disparate interests are aligning toward a vision of what I would like to accomplish in my life, and I can definitely credit the Global Citizens Scholars Program with that.

An especially impactful experience with the program was the weekend spent at Vive La Casa. I now feel strongly that the lives and health of displaced individuals will be an important element of my future career and pursuits.”

During the summer of 2017, Allegheny College had Global Citizen Scholars in India, Italy, Moldova, New Zealand, Nicaragua and Thailand; and next fall others will study abroad in Argentina, Australia, Chile, France and Spain.

In each location, there will be local beliefs, knowledge, language and practices. As they engage in the wide world, the expectation is to not lose sight of the local in the global. The students will hone per-

spective-taking that gets developed in and through global learning as they adjust to the street view in an unfamiliar context.

Says Danny Larson: “A ‘global citizen’ is someone who is aware of his/her place as a human on this planet, and the responsibilities that entails.”

“It’s hard to take yourself out of a place you know,” says Cristin Archer, “but it is in that uncomfortable place that you’re truly able to not only figure yourself out but also to figure out parts of the world around you.”

“This program will prepare all of us for a world where globalization is becoming the norm for our lifestyles,” says Erblin Shehu. “I believe that with our team working, and our leadership skills, we will be able to become the change we want to see, in a better world for future generations.”

A family displaced by the violence in Syria open their home in Erie for a visit from Global Citizen Scholars.

4 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

Unlike most extracurricular activities

Youth in Service

By Gabby Bradshaw 2016–17 AmeriCorps VISTA at Allegheny College

L

ast year, Civic Engagement office welcomed its newest addition of service pioneers: the Allegheny Youth Service Corps.

Comprised of 79 youth volunteers spanning from Cochranton to Saegertown, this group of middle school and high school students has documented over 500 hours of community service since its creation in fall 2016.

As an AmeriCorps VISTA project, the Allegheny Youth Service Corps was created to help youth living in Crawford County gain job-readiness skills and résumé-building experiences by participating in community service alongside college students. As individuals, the 79 volunteers come from different communities, backgrounds and beliefs, but collectively, they unite in the name of service.

Unlike most extracurricular activities that limit student engagement through academic standing or hour requirements, the Allegheny Youth Service Corps has no stipulations.

All students are welcome and have the autonomy to choose how often they participate. The only requirement for this program is a dedication to service.

Perhaps the two most valuable outcomes of this VISTA project have

been the positive relationships youth have built and the exposure they have gained. According to the Resilient Youth Committee, a branch council of Meadville’s Summer Summit initiative, a large number of youths in Crawford County have indicated having feelings of sadness or depression as measured by the Pennsylvania Youth Survey.

that limit student

Healthy bonds are key to youth resilience, and the Allegheny Youth Service Corps’ creation has fostered positive relationships between young volunteers and college-aged students. Three Allegheny Volunteer Service Leaders in the Civic Engagement office now work with the youth service corps on a consistent basis. One serves in the community with students, and two work behind the scenes to plan and promote youth service on campus.

Through consistent connection and healthy interaction, college students not only form lasting mentoring relationships with youth, but provide them with an outlet for résumé-building experiences.

Service Corps has

In addition, by participating in over 30 service projects in eight months, youth volunteers have gained access to a variety of local agencies, committees and nonprofits. For example, during Make a Difference Day this past fall, four students from Meadville Area Senior High School helped members of the city’s Shade Tree Commission plant trees along South Main Street. On Global Youth Service Day this past April, six youth volunteers from Meadville Area Middle School helped plant another 11 trees in the same neighborhood, bringing the fall project full circle.

In addition, other notable proj-

engagement through academic standing or hour requirements, the Allegheny Youth

no stipulations. All students are welcome and have the autonomy to choose how often they participate. ects youth assisted with this year include: preserving the historic Tarr Mansion, gardening at Allegheny’s Carr Hall Garden, cleaning barns and grooming horses at Mystic Mountain Training Center, raking leaves at Meadville residences, and sorting donated goods for local food banks.

All in all, the bonds youth have formed and the access they have gained through Allegheny Youth Service Corps have been crucial in helping them develop a sense of self within community. Through the continuation of this program, students will have opportunities to grow in their self-confidence and develop their own support network of healthy relationships within Crawford County.

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 5

ELLIE DAVIES Cherished the

Student-Service Experience

E

llie Davies is a legacy. Although now gone, passing in May 2017 at the age of 97, she has left a lasting mark on the Meadville community. Her spirit will live on through her family and the many community members and Allegheny students she has touched with her kindness and motivational words of wisdom.

The Davies Community Service Leader Program, housed in Civic Engagement, is a service-based internship program founded in 2004 by the Davies family in memory of Lew Davies ’40, an Allegheny graduate, community leader, and Ellie’s husband. Ellie spearheaded this program with her three sons, David Bainer, Jack Davies, and Steve Davies. Ellie’s work on the Davies Program and community engagement displayed her energy and strength throughout her lifetime.

Some of Ellie’s community accomplishments included: President of the

6 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

By Bethany Cocchi Davies Program Coordinator

The Final Cycle And though age and weakness threaten, the inner child hears the call of distant, unseen places, adventure yet unknown, moments to treasure with family, friends, books.

— Excerpt from “The Final Cycle” from New Beginnings, Collected Poetry of Eleanor Hinig Davies Hospital Auxiliary and chairperson of the Charity Follies, charter member of the “Friends of Probationers,” volunteering for “Meals on Wheels” for 10 years, leading two successful United Way Campaigns with her husband Lew, serving a four-year term on the Meadville

Area Recreation and Park Board at the time the Recreation Complex was planned and built, founder of Project O.N.E. at the Meadville Market House, and much more.

Because of Ellie’s big heart and civic vitality, she was involved in every

of it. Because of this care, several Davies Leaders found their calling through their leadership experience.

aspect of the Davies Program, meeting and dining with all 176 current and past Davies Leaders. Ellie is described by past Davies Leaders as genuinely curious and generous, an embodiment of service, a beautiful soul, and an inspiration.

“Ellie was always able to communicate the importance of the work each Davies Community Service Leader accomplished during their time in the program. When Ellie was finished learning about the project at the organization, she wanted to learn about the students and their aspirations. Ellie, and the Davies Program, encompass some of my most fond memories at Allegheny.”

Alex Neal ‘15, Davies Leader 2012–13; Summer 2013 Each Davies Leader worked at a nonprofit organization on a specific project that Ellie and her sons approved. Ellie, knowing every community partner students worked with, made them think deeply about their experiences and wanted to ensure they got something out

“Through the Davies Program, I came to better understand the power of civic vitality, committed citizenship, and the importance of place. As a direct result of my involvement with the Davies Program, I went on to receive my master’s degree in college student personnel (concentrating my assistantship and course work on civic engagement) and I now work in the Center for Civic Engagement at Davidson College. I quite literally would not be where or who I am without the generosity and support of the Davies family.”

Katherine Bowser ‘12, Davies Leader 2011–2012; Coordinator 2012–2013 Ellie also supported students outside of the Davies Program by helping establish the Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service. This award recognizes an Allegheny College student who has made a significant contribution to the Meadville community, has gone above and beyond in their volunteer or internship commitment, and has positively impacted other Allegheny students through their commitment.

“I was extremely honored to be recognized in 2008 with the Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service. It was, and continues to be, my proudest accomplishment within my undergraduate. This was such an amazing and unexpected recognition. The commitment of Ellie and her sons to be present for the award made a huge impression and always stayed with me. My career has changed paths since my time at Allegheny.

Instead of city planning, I now work in higher education. Along with my undergrad and graduate diplomas, the one other frame I display is my Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service.”

Meghan Perry ‘08, Lew and Ellie Davies Award Recipient 2008 At the end of every academic year, Ellie received a framed picture of the Davies Leaders she worked with. These pictures, a testament of her commitment to Meadville and the students of Allegheny, adorned several walls across her house, surrounding and resonating the impact of a life of service.

Connections In some mysterious cosmic way we are all connected.

It is our mutual humanity… destiny… karma… when souls meet souls in what appears to be coincidence?

—“Connections” from New Beginnings, Collected Poetry of Eleanor Hinig Davies Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 7

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

An Interview with ADELE GILMAN

By Gabby Bradshaw 2016–17 AmeriCorps VISTA at Allegheny College

A

dele Gilman ’20 is a studentathlete at Allegheny College.

Her “unusual combination” consists of a major in biochemistry and a minor in Spanish. Originally from Potomac, Maryland, Gilman says she chose Allegheny over other colleges because she knew it would give her the opportunity to pursue her passions in academics, sports, and community service.

Before coming to Allegheny in the fall of 2016, Gilman was heavily involved with an organization called the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY). Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop a global community of youth and volunteers dedicated to living lives of leadership, service, and innovation. During her sophomore year of high school, Gilman attended her first HOBY conference in Washington, D.C. She enjoyed the experience so much that she has returned to work the conference as a staff member every year since.

In addition to HOBY, Gilman was also involved in the R.E.A.C.H. club at her high school. R.E.A.C.H., or, Realizing Every Action Can Help, has a dual mission of aiding local communities, while simultaneously raising money to build infrastructure in Africa. Gilman served as the club’s president during her senior year.

Although these two organizations served as her primary focus, Gilman

8 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

says she also helped out whenever and wherever she could in her community. By graduation, she had completed 260 hours of service, and was given the Maryland State Department of Education Certificate of Meritorious Service.

Today, beyond her academic studies and position on the women’s varsity soccer team, Gilman is a member of Allegheny’s co-ed service fraternity, Alphi Phi Omega (APO), and serves as the community engagement chair for Hillel, the Jewish studentled organization on campus. She also served as a Summer 2017 Davies Leader at the organization My Meadville.

Adele Gilman spoke to Engaged in May 2017: How did you get involved with the Civic Engagement office at Allegheny?

I got involved with the Civic Engagement office after I saw a blurb that they put out on MyAllegheny about an upcoming Service Saturday event. I attended that Service Saturday, and ended up serving at a local community garden [Creating Landscapes]. I got to meet and work with some local youth that day, and had a ton of fun. I learned a lot, and knew then that I needed to continue serving within the Meadville area thereafter.

I have been coming back to Civic Engagement ever since!

What service initiatives have you participated in this past year?

This year, I have been a part of many service initiatives through the Civic Engagement office and APO. During my participation in Service Saturdays, I’ve been able to volunteer at Creating Landscapes for Families, Women’s Services, The Bark Park, and the Crawford County Mental Health Awareness Program (CHAPS). During my spring semester, I started volunteering at Stone United Methodist Church’s soup kitchen once every two weeks. In March, I went on the local Alternative Spring Break trip to Erie. On that trip, we volunteered at Presque Isle, did farm maintenance at Mystic Mountain Training Center in Cambridge Springs, helped out with the “Fourth Graders as Scientists” Symposium at Allegheny, and much more! Through APO, I have also been able to help out at various events in the community, like the annual Chocoholic Frolic.

What has been your favorite service experience of this past year?

My favorite service experience this year was definitely Alternative Spring Break. It was a week of serving the local community, learning about our community’s needs, and how I can be a greater help. Making friends with fellow Allegheny students was also a bonus. It was truly an amazing and refreshing week that reminded me that I am a part of a greater community.

What do you want other Allegheny students to know about civic engagement/the Meadville community/what it means to be a civic-minded student?

What are your future roles/ goals within the office of Civic Engagement?

This summer [2017], I am serving as a Summer Davies Leader with the organization My Meadville. I’m very excited for the opportunity to help this organization achieve its mission of bringing the Meadville community together by identifying what matters most to the city. After this summer, I hope to have a greater understanding of my community and the role I play as a resident.

During the upcoming year, I want to take what I learn this summer and create a way to more easily connect students to service opportunities in the community that match their interests. I have a few ideas that I’m hoping to work on this summer and next year.

I want other Allegheny students to understand that service has a reciprocal effect. When students go out and help the community, they are also helping themselves. Service opportunities in Meadville allow college students to learn about a new community, gain a greater sense of place, and share their talents with the area. I think students often do not realize what a wide range of opportunities there are to give back in Meadville, and that many of these opportunities allow students to gain insights into their future career paths. They can also use what they have learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world. For example, if you are thinking about choosing the pre-med track, volunteer with the Meadville Medical Center. Or, if you are interested in education, volunteer through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. There are also plenty of random service opportunities that

Left, top: Adele poses with fellow staff members during the 2017 HOBY conference held in Washington, D.C. Left, bottom: Adele Gilman helps load bales of hay onto the hay elevator at Mystic Mountain Training Center during Alternative Spring Break’s local trip 2017 (Cambridge Springs, PA).

Above: Adele joins Allegheny student Madeleine Stauffer and area youth at Creating Landscapes Garden during April’s Global Youth Service Day event (2017).

offer students the chance to get off campus, meet the locals, and have fun! Service opportunities also vary in length — from a day event, to a weekly commitment — so there’s something for any student’s schedule. Moreover, from my experience, most places are rather flexible and will work with the volunteer’s schedule. So, if you are a student reading this, I hope that you will come by Civic Engagement or talk to me about getting involved in community service. You will not regret it!

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 9

2016–2017 ACADEMIC YEAR

Student Awards and Honors

C

ivic Engagement would like to celebrate the students who were recipients of this year’s Leadership Awards, Cornerstone Awards, Jasper Harris Award, Honors Convocation awards, and the Lew and Ellie Davies Award for Outstanding Community Service. These students demonstrate the spirit of service and community engagement that allows us to continue great work and grow relationships in the local community.

Leadership Awards

Cornerstone Awards Hannah Blinn — Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader Program Levi Lundell — Alternative Spring Break Program Emily Lunz — Davies Program Matthew Zaborowski — Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader Program

Allegheny Student Prize for Civility in Public Life Sydney Fernandez — Bonner Program

Judith Carrillo — Bonner Program

Bonner Program Jasper Harris Award Recipient

Innovation Award

Julia Robinson — Bonner Program

Emerging Leader Award

Zafirah Abdulrahoof — Davies Program Merryn Spence — Davies Program Helping Hand Award

Joshua Cohen — Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader Program Inspiration Award

Kierra Price — Operation Read Program Student Coordinator Samantha Samakande — Bonner Program

Lew and Ellie Davies Awards for Outstanding Community Service Winner: Lee Ann Streshenkoff — Bonner Program Honorable Mention: Andrew Nunn — Bonner Program Honorable Mention: Zafirah Abdulrahoof — Davies Program

Bridge Award

Baneen Al-Akashi — Bonner Program Alyson Lawendowski Award for Outstanding Community Service

Andrew Nunn — Bonner Program Dean’s Award

Susan Campbell — Alternative Spring Break Program

Honors Convocation Awards Outstanding Junior Major Prize in Biochemistry

Susan Campbell — Alternative Spring Break Program Community and Justice Studies Faculty Prize

Delaney Rohan — Bonner Program 10 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

By Ellen Bach

Bonner Program Coordinator

The Outstanding Community and Justice Studies Junior and Outstanding Junior Major Prize in Environmental Science

Sarah Nathan — Bonner Program Prize of Penna Institute of CPAs and The Graduate Student Prize in Economics

Patrick Donathen — Alternative Spring Break Program, Habitat for Humanity Environmental Science Faculty Prize

Bennett Gould — Davies Program (Summer 2016) Environmental Studies Faculty Prize

Hannah Blinn — Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader Program Outstanding Junior Major Prize in Environmental Science

Sonya Korzeniwsky — Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader Program Interdisciplinary Studies Faculty Prize

Caitlin Brown — Civic Engagement Service Network Fellow Blair Hanson Prize in Modern Foreign Languages

Alana Picozzi — Alternative Spring Break Program Outstanding Junior Major Prize in Political Science

Joshua Patton — Davies Program (2015–16) Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Outstanding Senior Major Prize

Samantha Samakande Harold M. State Research Fellowship

Melissa McCann — Alternative Spring Break Program

FA C U LT Y S P O T L I G H T

“Kids are awesome! They want to learn.”

— Dr. Lisa Whitenack, associate professor of biology at Allegheny College, on why she likes teaching youngsters

Dr. Lisa Whitenack

By Mariana Silva AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator

D

r. Lisa Whitenack, associate professor of biology at Allegheny College, is a fan of sharks and public education.

After having a chat with her about her volunteer work in public education initiatives (alas, we didn’t have time for the sharks), I left the room inspired by her passion to serve the community.

My first request for Whitenack was to explain her involvement in the area of public education, even though her research and career are in the fields of biology and geology.

She explained that her mother is a first grade teacher, so she grew up listening to the joys and burdens of teaching in the public school system. She shared that her plan

was to become a school teacher herself, but somewhere along the line, the higher education path (and the sharks) took over. Her two sisters followed in their mom’s footsteps and became elementary and middle school teachers. So you could say it was in Whitenack’s DNA to become involved in public education initiatives.

My second request was for Whitenack to describe her involvement in public education volunteer work and activism. Her list is extensive: Partners in Education (a partnership of educational stakeholders that fosters intellectual enrichment and ethical development), Fourth Graders as Scientists (a day-long event with hands-on science activities for fourthgrade students), Educators in the Workplace (an event hosted by local manufacturers to build bridges of communication between educators and businesses), the Allegheny College-Crawford Central School District Partnership (school teachers working with Allegheny faculty and students on curriculum and pedagogy strategies), and serving on the board of directors of the Meadville Children’s Center.

I’ve experienced one of the Fourth Graders as Scientists events and can attest to its success. Students worked on a hands-on science proj-

ect that day, building a groundwater system and water well using sand, rocks, straws and Play-Doh and seeing which type of filtration system would clean the mucky water the facilitator provided. The students were visibly excited about the project, and I overheard the teachers talking about repeating the activity in their classrooms. Whitenack said that one reason she likes teaching youngsters is because “Kids are awesome!

They want to learn.” After observing their glee exploring different types of wells and filtration systems, I have to agree.

When confronted with an aura of negativity around the Crawford Central School District, Whitenack and two other Allegheny professors decided to take matters into their own hands. They worked with the school district and gathered content for a brochure highlighting what the local public schools had to offer, and enlisted Whitenack’s husband, a graphic designer, to create the layout. This, to me, perfectly exemplifies Whitenack’s proactive attitude and eagerness to serve the community, regardless of personal gain.

Whitenack shared with me that she aspires to be on the public school board — a next step in her extensive involvement in public education initiatives and advocacy.

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 11

Alternative Spring Break Spotlight

By Gabby Bradshaw 2016–17 AmeriCorps VISTA at Allegheny College

Rachel DuChateau ’16 helps build a ramp during her first ASB local trip experience in 2015.

Levi Lundell ’17 working in the garden during his junior-year ASB trip to Williamson County, Tennessee (2016).

When it comes to

What year did you participate in your first Alternative Spring Break trip?

semester of 2014.

environmental solutions, and got to see the incredible beauty West Virginia had to offer. I loved helping create a garden for the community, and hanging out with the kids was exciting.

Rachel: I participated in my first

Rachel:

Alternative Spring Break (ASB), Allegheny alumni Levi Lundell ’17 and Rachel DuChateau ’16 are seasoned

veterans. Tallying 10 trips between both of them, we decided to ask these service go-

Levi: I was a freshman, spring

ASB trip during the spring semester of my freshman year (2013).

Who or what motivated/ influenced you to sign up for your first ASB experience?

Levi: My sister [also an Allegheny alumna] had attended a trip, and she recommended it to me. I always trust her opinion, so I thought I’d give it a shot! I’m so glad I did.

Rachel:

Honestly, I am not sure what influenced me. I just knew after my first ASB experience that I would do ASB every year after that.

getters to reflect and

Describe your first ASB service experience.

narrate collectively on

Levi:

some of their favorite ASB experiences.

12 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

We traveled to Big Ugly, West Virginia. I loved it because it was different from any place I had lived, or visited, up to that point.

The hospitality was incredible, and the people were so unique. During my trip, I gained knowledge on

My first ASB trip traveled to Cranks Creek, which is located in the hollers of Kentucky. Our team of volunteers worked with the Cranks Creek Survival Center to rehabilitate houses. It was both an incredible, and challenging experience. During the trip, I assisted in building a front porch railing. What I remember most about the trip was the family whose house it was. We spent the entire week working and getting to know them. When we went to leave, the grandmother pulled us aside and thanked us for being so kind to her grandson. It is a moment that I will never forget. It instilled in me Allegheny’s emphasis of “people over project.”

How many ASB trips have you participated in total?

Levi:

I participated every college year, so four. My freshman year we went to Big Ugly, West Virginia, my sophomore year was York,

Pennsylvania, my junior year was Williamson County, Tennessee, and my senior year was spent on the local trip in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Rachel:

In total, I have participated in five official ASB trips, plus one unofficial trip. I went on four trips as a student at Allegheny, and I co-supervised the localtrip as an alumna the year after I graduated. As for the unofficial trip, during the summer of 2013, a group of us from the original Cranks Creek ASB team planned a return trip to Kentucky. We obtained funding and transportation, and were there for a week repairing a house for someone who worked at the Survival Center.

We were also able to visit people from our previous service week back in March.

Which ASB trip was your favorite and why? What was your most memorable ASB trip/moment?

Levi:

I loved them all. I learned that it doesn’t matter where you are because service is service, and a need is a need. If we were working on a house, I always enjoyed meeting the homeowners and hearing the incredible things they had done for their community. I enjoyed the variety you got from these experiences. Whether you get to help move and pack, build and construct, garden and dig, or just hang out and listen to children’s stories, you will always be surprised and excited if you are open-minded.

Rachel:

Each trip is memorable for various reasons, and I could give a reason for why each one was my favorite. If I HAD to pick one though, I would have to say my first local ASB trip was my favorite. After returning from studying abroad the

fall of my junior year, I was feeling disconnected from the Allegheny community. Participating in the local trip helped me mend the disconnect I felt through friendships I developed on our trip. I was also able to learn more about Crawford/ Erie counties, and deepen my ties to the community at-large through our service projects.

What has participating in ASB taught you about yourself as a student/leader/citizen?

Levi:

I learned that we live in a world that can use a helping hand in essentially any community, including your own neighborhood. I learned that I personally feel better knowing that being an active participant, and helping others, can leave a lasting effect on a community. I know that as long as we give our time, we will be part of the greater effort to help humanity. I’m proud of this more than many other things in my life.

Rachel:

Participating in ASB taught me how to be a better leader. A good leader isn’t always the first person to conquer a project, but a good leader knows when it is time to step back and encourage others to learn a new skill or take on a task.

You have both served as ASB student leaders on more than one occasion. What was your experience like transitioning from a student volunteer to a student leader?

Levi:

It wasn’t too different. I did the same amount of work as my team members. I would say, though, that it was rewarding to help foster reflection, support the trip, and gain some leadership experience in doing something I love!

Rachel: Transitioning from a student leader to a supervisor was similar except I focused more on logistics and safety as a supervisor.

What advice do you have for students who might be interested in participating in an ASB trip?

Levi:

Keep an open mind. I am sure you will learn something about volunteering and people that you would never have expected.

Rachel:

Challenge by choice. The best part of ASB is that it pushes you outside of your comfort zone.

You are either in a new place, connecting to your local community in a new way, meeting new people (Allegheny peers and the community members that you serve), or developing and learning new skills (from using power tools, to engaging with families and children, to building sustainable trails). Each Alternative Spring Break trip is a new and unique experience. Be open-minded to the location. It may not always be your first choice, but each place has something amazing to offer. Also, be open-minded to who you are with on the trip. They may not be your best friends, but ASB is a great way to connect to people that you may never have met otherwise.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Levi:

If you are contemplating that it might be fun, I recommend you take a leap of faith. Personally, I loved my experience and I think if you keep an open mind, it could be transformational!

Rachel:

HAVE FUN!

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 13

Director of the Maytum Learning Commons, Former AmeriCorps VISTA Project Director

Athletes Engage With the Community

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Despite rigorous academic workloads and intense athletic responsibilities, all 21 varsity teams participate in some form of service.

By Erin O’Day-Frye

llegheny College athletic teams demonstrate a tremendous commitment to service. Despite rigorous academic workloads and intense athletic responsibilities, all 21 varsity teams participate in some form of service.

Whether it is individual athletes, or more commonly a whole team, their service provides crucial volunteer support needed to impact the Meadville community.

The basketball players also read to West End Elementary School students as part of Read Across America celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday. In doing so, they acted as role models showing the importance of academics.

During the 2016–17 academic year, 241 athletes volunteered 1,753 hours. These athletes participated in Civic Engagement-sponsored events such as Make a Difference Day (October 15, 2016), Second Harvest Food Drive (November 16, 2016), Read Across America (March 2017), and monthly Service Saturdays. In addition, teams supported local Special Olympics events and programming, nonprofit organizations’ fundraising events, philanthropic causes, and charity walks.

Angelo Panzetta, men’s soccer coach, echoes Costanzo’s sentiments on community engagement. His team participated in the February Service Saturday helping to prepare for Meadville’s Winterfest.

Coach Panzetta explains that having his team serve “was a great way to give back to our Meadville community. I was very proud of the players for taking the initiative and picking that Saturday, knowing most of our team was going to volunteer. They worked hard, had fun, it was a fantastic team-building experience.”

According to Women’s Basketball Coach Kate Costanzo: “Community involvement is one of the team’s core values. It is important for the players to give back to the community that they call home. Volunteering at the Bethesda Children’s Home Mud Run has become an annual tradition for us. This past year, a few of the players even ran the course when the race ended!”

Student athlete Adele Gilman (class of 2020, women’s soccer) has been involved in service since she arrived on campus in August 2016. She has participated in Service Saturdays, an Alternative Spring Break trip, and a summer internship in Meadville as a Davies Service Leader. She explains, “One of the core reasons that I chose Allegheny was because I liked the relationship that the campus

14 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

had with the local community. This relationship is fostered by community service, so arriving at Allegheny I knew I wanted to get involved in service and explore this relationship. I learned about many great opportunities Civic Engagement offers on my prospective student visit to Allegheny and did not want to miss out on them. Thus, despite a full schedule, I made service at Allegheny a priority because much like soccer, service offers opportunities for personal growth and development outside of the classroom.”

(See more about Adele and her service in the Volunteer Spotlight Interview on page 7.)

Athletes benefit community engagement, and community engagement benefits athletes. While providing valuable human power, athletes develop team comradery and values. Service provides athletes with an introduction to Meadville and opportunities to build practical skills that complement their academic and athletic endeavors.

The Civic Engagement office applauds student athletes and coaches for caring enough to make a difference in the community!

Team Service Service Saturdays Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Softball, Men’s Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Track and Field, Volleyball Make a Difference Day Baseball, Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Tennis Second Harvest Food Drive Baseball, Women’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis Special Olympics Baseball, Golf, Softball Swimming and Diving, Volleyball The men’s basketball team participated in the November 2016 Service Saturday, completing three community projects that included working at Mystic Mountain (youth training center that utilizes outdoor activities and horses), completing yard work, and building a wheelchair ramp. The team supported a Spring Build Service Saturday in April in which they scraped and painted a house in Cochranton, Pennsylvania.

In addition, the team assisted Women’s Services by hosting a fundraising dinner at the home of Board of Trustees member Rob Smith ’73.

TOP: Men’s basketball team members Billy (left) and Brendon (right) Urso build a ramp with skilled supervisors, Duane Koller and Mike Fields. ABOVE: The women’s basketball team assists with Second Harvest Food Drive.

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 15

reflection… breaking out for discussion… breaking through to leading change Breaking it down through

By Charmaine Wilson, Assistant Director of Civic Engagement & Bonner Program Director

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nnually, thousands of college students selflessly demonstrate what it means to “be the change you wish to see in the world” by participating in Alternative Spring Break trips. Here at Allegheny, this represents the mission of the Allegheny Gateway.

Our students #BecomeTheChange by acknowledging various social justice issues experienced by people of different races, genders and backgrounds, thus amplifying what a change agent really is.

On March 25, 2017, Penn State Behrend held the first “Break’s Up” Alternative Spring Break Conference, which allowed students to share their service trip experiences. Student power comes from 16 ENGAGED | Fall 2017

their inner work, their self-reflection.

This event was designed to foster connections among the many social justice issues that face our society. It provided students with an opportunity to learn more about themselves and different communities, and to be a part of the change that can make an impact in a local or national community.

Throughout different campuses and organizations including Allegheny College, Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State Behrend and the VISTA Lake Effect Leaders Project, more than 60 students participated.

Upon return, students were empowered to make more informed decisions that support a greater

good. To have a deeper and more enriched experience, this “Break’s Up” conference included five breakout sessions. Each session was facilitated by VISTA members and co-led by staff and/or student leaders. The following “Be the Change Agent” sessions were offered: Sustainability & Urban Renewal Hunger & Food Security Housing & Homelessness Diversity & Cross-Cultural Awareness Children & Youth Allegheny students shared that they were invigorated by their experiences and hope to bring back what they learned to their campus to help improve communities and discover new ways to use resources.

Fall 2017 | ENGAGED 17

Civic Engagement Staff

Director of Civic Engagement

Bonner Program Coordinator

D A V E R O N C O L AT O ’ 7 9

ELLEN BACH

Davies Program Coordinator

Gateway Office Manager

AmeriCorps VISTA, 2017-18

BETHANY COCCHI ’13

JENNIFER KESSNER

COREY RAZEVICH ’16

AmeriCorps VISTA Project Coordinator

M A R I A N A S I LVA

Assistant Director of Civic Engagement and Bonner Program Director

CHARMAINE WILSON

ENGAGED Magazine Office of Civic Engagement 520 N. Main Street Meadville, PA 16335 (814) 332-5318