Wright State honors service-learning

Amour Inman (right) received the Undergraduate Student Award. She is pictured with Wright State President David R. Hopkins and Marjorie McLellan, Ph.D., associate professor in Urban Affairs and Geography.

From leading a study abroad trip to South Africa to tutoring students in a Dayton elementary school, faculty, staff and students at Wright State are making an impact. Their efforts were in the spotlight at the annual Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Recognition Breakfast.

President David. R. Hopkins and Cathy Sayer, director of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, thanked attendees for their hard work and collaborations that are changing lives.

Sayer presented highlights of the school year, which included development of a new Youth and Community Engagement minor, new service-learning courses, Days of Service, scholarships and grants, youth partnerships and faculty development opportunities. Rebecca Fensler, coordinator of poverty programs, and Tara Purvis, coordinator for youth and literacy programs, shared the successes in their areas.

A silent auction was held to benefit the Citizen Scholar Fund. The $950 raised will be matched with a gift from the Wright State Foundation.

Special recognition recipients are:

Caitlin McGee and Jessica Ransbottom

Citizen Scholar certificates

Molly Early, Adam French and Caitlin McGee

AmeriCorps Students in Service Scholarships

Rebecca Fensler and Tara Purvis

Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTAS

Award honorees are:

Amour Inman

Undergraduate Student Award

Her service includes community development work with the Wesley Community Center, National History Day coach with Thurgood Marshall High School and the Student Philanthropy Project.

Galen Crawford

Graduate Student Award

Crawford secured a grant and co-coordinated the MLK Day of Service, co-taught the first-year seminar course, “Rebuilding New Orleans,” and co-led the spring break trip to New Orleans.

Maureen Barry

Staff Award

Barry is recognized for her Service-Learning Librarian blog, service-learning resources web page, and providing support for faculty.

Hunt Brown

Faculty Award

Brown, a senior lecturer in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Wright State’s director of Sustainability, is a pioneer of service-learning courses and trips, including post Katrina New Orleans and Appalachian Ohio.

Community Partner Awards

Partners for the spring break service-learning trip to Appalachian Ohio:

Paul Richards, Good Works, Inc.

Tom Redfern, Rural Action

Lauren Miller, Athens County Public Libraries

Mike Steinmaus, Monday Creek Restoration Project

Kip Rondy, Green Edge Gardens

Rebecca Fensler, Kumar Marthy and Nicole Wurst

Collaboration Award

The trio is recognized for leadership and support of the Friendship Food Pantry, which provided 7,785 meals to over 500 students and 134 dependent children last year.

Jennifer Subban, Ph.D.

Special Achievement Award

Subban, associate professor of urban affairs, is the campus executive director of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and the director of the Student Philanthropy Project. She leads a study abroad service-learning trip to her homeland of South Africa to benefit local high school students.