Penn State Behrend Students’ Efforts Worth Thousands
Students at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, donated more than one thousand pounds of food, volunteered thousands of hours and raised tens of thousands of dollars for multiple charitable organizations during the 2005-06 academic year. The college’s Center for Service Leadership recognized these and other achievements by its students and staff at the annual service awards recognition ceremony in early April.
“This has been an outstanding year of generosity from Penn State Behrend’s students,” said Kelly Shrout, coordinator of community service and the Smith Chapel. “Collectively, Penn State Behrend students donated 1,356 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank, accumulated 6,522 hours of volunteer services and raised more than $20,500 for charitable organizations.”
The eight awards granted were based on the 135 submitted community service reports.
The Chancellor’s award, which annually recognizes the organization that provides outstanding service to Penn State Behrend, was presented to Alpha Phi Omega, a national co-ed service fraternity, for its continued efforts to support the college in its mission. Alpha Phi Omega also received the East Erie Kiwanis award for its dedication to the local community.
The Outstanding Philanthropic Gift award was presented to the Penn State Behrend dance team and cheerleading squad for donating $8,000 to the American Cancer Society as a result of the Spirit Against Cancer dance and cheerleading competition.
The Returning Adult Student Organization received the Outstanding Original Service Project award for collecting 295 pounds of food during Corry Manufacturing’s canned foods challenge.
The resident assistant class was recognized with the Outstanding Community Service Hours award for its fundraising efforts benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The Organization of Latin American Students earned the Outstanding Educational Service Project award for its commitment to tutoring and mentoring the Hispanic American Council’s students.
Daniela Campana was awarded as the Outstanding Individual who Represents Service and Philanthropy for her work with the Organization of Latin American Students and her commitment to the Hispanic American Council.
Thomas Wortman, senior project associate for research, and Emily Allen, undergraduate studies advisor, were presented with the Implementation of Service in the Classroom award. The two incorporated a service component into the education 100S course, which is a first-year seminar designed for students interested in any type of teaching. The students were required to complete 20 hours of community service working with children, i.e. volunteering at a child care center or YMCA.
More than 30 student organizations submitted service reports throughout the academic year, including Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Asian Student Organization, Athletics, The Behrend Beacon, Catholic Campus Ministry, Delta Chi, Delta Sigma Pi, Diversity Committee, education class 100S sections one and two, Human Relations Programming Council, International Student Organization, Kappa Delta Rho, Lambda Sigma, Matchbox Players, Newman Association, Ophelia Project, Organization of Latin American Students, Penn State Behrend cheerleaders, Penn State Behrend dance team, Panhellenic Council, Reality Check, resident assistant class, Residence Life, Returning Adult Student Organization, Senat Hall Council, Sigma Tau Gamma, Theta Phi Alpha, Trigon, and Women Today.
The Center for Service Leadership at Penn State Behrend encourages students to become better leaders and promotes leadership through participation in meaningful service to their campus, community and society through a series of service initiatives. Service leadership seeks to enhance students’ out-of-class experiences through involvement in organized community service.