2008 Woodie Awards
Service-Learning panel expressed growth of students through service
Kelleen O'Fallon '07
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News
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Saint Joseph's faculty, students, and community partners in service came together on Feb. 20 to give presentations on service-learning, in an event sponsored by the Faith-Justice Institute. The panel took place at 11:30 a.m. in the Campion Student Center's North Lounge.
Ann Green, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, began the panel by discussing the benefits of service-learning courses, which she and other faculty members teach. Green argued students learn an ethic of care through service-learning that cannot be taught in other courses.
"Through relationship-based service-learning, students are giving care and are cared for," Green said. "Service-learning has more of a lifetime trajectory than a single course."
Representing Saint Joseph's community partner My Brother's House, Kate Colemeco, a Saint Joseph's alumna, shared how students mature over the course of their service experience. "I see these freshmen; they come in and they're nervous," Colemeco said. "I watch them cope with frustration, disappointment, and injustice. I really see them grow up."
Students John Galiano, '10, and Andrew McNamara, '10, both spoke at the panel about their weekly service-learning commitments. Galiano spends time with first grade students at the Holy Name School in Camden, N.J., while McNamara works with Project HOME, a Philadelphia outreach group for the homeless.
Both students did not knowingly volunteer for their respective service-learning courses. "I had more of a mentality of 'why not'?" said Galiano, about the realization that he would be required to perform weekly service as part of his Spanish class.
Galiano now finds himself caring for the first graders with which he works. "I want to give these kids the time they need to grow," Galiano said. "I know I can help them."
McNamara was a little apprehensive prior to his first service trip, a requirement for a philosophy course.
"I have a fear of those I consider to be problematic," said McNamara in his presentation. After working with Project HOME, however, McNamara began to identify with those he feared. "The ignored can easily become you and me," McNamara said.
Ann Green, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English, began the panel by discussing the benefits of service-learning courses, which she and other faculty members teach. Green argued students learn an ethic of care through service-learning that cannot be taught in other courses.
"Through relationship-based service-learning, students are giving care and are cared for," Green said. "Service-learning has more of a lifetime trajectory than a single course."
Representing Saint Joseph's community partner My Brother's House, Kate Colemeco, a Saint Joseph's alumna, shared how students mature over the course of their service experience. "I see these freshmen; they come in and they're nervous," Colemeco said. "I watch them cope with frustration, disappointment, and injustice. I really see them grow up."
Students John Galiano, '10, and Andrew McNamara, '10, both spoke at the panel about their weekly service-learning commitments. Galiano spends time with first grade students at the Holy Name School in Camden, N.J., while McNamara works with Project HOME, a Philadelphia outreach group for the homeless.
Both students did not knowingly volunteer for their respective service-learning courses. "I had more of a mentality of 'why not'?" said Galiano, about the realization that he would be required to perform weekly service as part of his Spanish class.
Galiano now finds himself caring for the first graders with which he works. "I want to give these kids the time they need to grow," Galiano said. "I know I can help them."
McNamara was a little apprehensive prior to his first service trip, a requirement for a philosophy course.
"I have a fear of those I consider to be problematic," said McNamara in his presentation. After working with Project HOME, however, McNamara began to identify with those he feared. "The ignored can easily become you and me," McNamara said.
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