YEAR IN REVIEW

Creativity. Compassion. Contribution…. these are 3 words that represent the 2019-2020 school year for the Brain Center. From the development of new initiatives and student support programs in response to COVID-19, to the care and support that our student community showed one another during these unpredictable and challenging times. It was a year of tremendous achievement - from recognition for programs such as the Jacket Philanthropy Program (Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award) to new opportunities that will take Brain Center efforts to the next level (All in Democracy Challenge). Please enjoy this report which serves as a reflection on the people, partnerships and programs that have shaped individual lives, campus and the wider community over this past year.

Big thanks to our LHE Graduate Fellows: Amanda Pacanovsky and Emily Sheetz

Amanda and Emily both brought a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to their work with Brain Center programs and students. They encouraged students, launched new ideas and will leave a meaningful legacy through their work.

At the core of our work in the Brain Center is student

leadership development, fostering civic responsibility and empowering active engagement….. Never have these skills and values been more essential.

Challenges presented by COVID-19 led to innovation in remote service-learning engagement,

COVID-19 also exposed disparities in healthcare, access to technology, and financial vulnerabilities within our student community which led to the quick development of the new

Emergency Grant Fund, Continued tragedies of police brutality and systemic racism have activated new levels of commitment to anti-racism work and interest in the role that institutions of higher education can play in efforts for racial equity and social justice.

NEW: Emergency Grant Fund

Launched in March 2020, the BW Student Emergency Grants Program helps BW students who are facing financial difficulty due to an emergency situation or one-time hardship related to the COVID-19 crisis. The funds are awarded to help alleviate short-term financial need. For purposes of this grant program, a financial emergency is defined as an unforeseen expense that, if not resolved quickly, could lead to a disruption of the student’s education, student's departure from the university or loss of momentum toward completion. This fund is sustained through generous gifts from donors. Thank you to everyone who has contributed financially, support to students or those providing assistance in the grant process.

Thank you to our Emergency Grant Committee

C. J. Harkness

Patti O’Grady Danelle Baker-Miller Veronica Drdek

George Schiller Kris Cunningham Debby Brousek