Service Learning Awards

The 2020 Dave Scharfenberger Community Service Award goes to
Katie Vickers.

Katie is a senior social work major. Katie served as the President of the Campus Activities Board, working with other board members to bring student engagement to campus by planning and facilitating events. She also was an active member of the Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter. She participated in Habitat service days and she participated in a Habitat Collegiate Challenge trip to South Carolina. Katie also participated in a New Orleans mission trip through Campus Ministry. Finally, Katie completed service learning experiences with Be Concerned, where she assisted local families experiencing hunger. Head Coach of Cross Country and Track & Field Tina Blakley said that Katie is “committed to serving others, whether it is other students and/or people in the community.”

The 2020 Sister Elizabeth Cashman Community Service Award goes to

Grace Hauserman.

Grace is a senior middle childhood education major. As club President, Grace worked hard to get the Student Environmental Enthusiasts Club active again by encouraging other students to experience nature. She also was very active with Campus Ministry. She helped to facilitate Thirsty Thursday, a Campus Ministry program that encourages students to live out our university’s core value of service to others. She also participated in Campus Ministry’s New Orleans mission trip. Grace completed a variety of service learning experiences as a student as well. She participated in the Christian Appalachian Workfest spring break program through her Appalachian Spirituality course, and completed tutoring and mentoring with Gamble Montessori Middle School. Assistant Dean Warren Grove said that “Grace lives and breathes the University’s mission through her unparalleled example of servant leadership, an identity and value she holds at her core.”

The 2020 Outstanding Service Learning Community Partner Award goes to
Be Concerned.

Be Concerned is Northern Kentucky’s largest food pantry, and it is led by Mount graduate, Andrew Brunsman. Since 2014, 12 service learning students have completed 30 hour placements with Be Concerned, where they were able to help alleviate hunger in Northern Kentucky.  Be Concerned has also helped many Mount students facing food insecurity through our Supplemental Nutrition Program, a program that offers supplemental food assistance at no cost to students or the University. This program has helped a number of our students to stay in college and graduate, and for that, we are very grateful.

The 2020 Outstanding Service Learning Faculty Member award goes to
Dr. Jennifer Withrow, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Social Work.

Dr. Withrow has worked hard to infuse service learning experiences throughout the social work program curriculum. Her students have volunteered with organizations like Master Provisions, the Brighton Center, City Gospel Mission, ProKids, and Be Concerned. Dr. Withrow has also worked with the Ohio Campus Compact to launch the new Student Resource Center at Mount St. Joseph, which allows social work students to gain valuable work experience by helping fellow students to access necessary state benefits and other resources that help them to stay enrolled in and graduate from college.