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First Week Leadership Program: Chesterbrook Clean-up Project
On Saturday, September 1, 2007, the Bentley Service-Learning Center (BSLC) organized 70 entering freshmen students to participate in a clean-up effort at the Chesterbrook housing development in Waltham. The service project was part of the First Week Leadership Program. Sixteen BSLC project managers facilitated the students’ efforts on five large projects to rejuvenate the communal areas in the development. By the end of the four-hour day, the basketball court was weeded, swept, and had freshly painted lines. The playground was also weeded, the equipment cleaned, and a fresh layer of mulch was laid down. The community building was repainted on the outside and lawn ornaments were removed and later replaced with mulch. The computer room, used afterschool by the children who live at Chesterbrook, was repainted and cleaned. The fifth project involved painting the metal fence that separates the housing development from Lexington Street. The day was a big success and even involved the children who live at Chesterbrook, providing them an opportunity to give back to their community. Through these efforts, Bentley students were able to begin getting acquainted with the Waltham community and the children were able to take pride in the place where they live. During the academic year, Bentley students in sociology, psychology, government, and information technology courses engage in service-learning projects at the Chesterbrook community. These projects relate to after-school and computer programs.
Bentley Student Trains Faculty at Casper College
Maura Brady, Project Manager for 2+2=5: The Power of Teamwork, traveled to Casper College in Wyoming in October. There she co-facilitated a training session for service-learning faculty on implementing the 2+2=5 program. Her co-facilitator was Scott Morency, a Bentley service-learning graduate and the developer of 2+2=5. The Casper College Learning through Service Center, which sponsored the workshop, is hoping to implement the program in the spring. During the training Maura and Scott also discussed many aspects of the Bentley service-learning program.
Aside from covering logistics regarding how 2+2=5 runs, they guided the faculty through the process of addressing and meeting the need in the community as well as training project managers and students. Further training was given to emphasize the significance of evaluation, the value of reflection within 2+2=5, and successful methods that are currently used at Bentley.
There were many positive features to this trip, but the most beneficial was the partnership that was established between Bentley and Casper College. Maura and Scott are currently assisting the Casper Learning through Service Center with getting the program up and running and are looking forward to working closely with Casper in the future. The relationship will help enhance the overall 2+2=5 program as well as the experiences of those who participate. They are excited to share cross-experience discussions, journal pals, simultaneous reflection sessions, and ideas for further program development. The ultimate goal is to spread the 2+2=5 program as well as to create partnerships at Casper and elsewhere for other Bentley service-learning programs.
Five Bentley Students Receive the 2007 Sandy M. Adamian Service-Learning Award
At the 2007 Recognition Luncheon sponsored by the
The Adamian Award was created in 1993 in honor of the late
Sandy M. Adamian, mother of President Emeritus Gregory Adamian and Professor Harry Adamian. As a resident of
The award is designed to recognize Bentley students who are committed to service. Recipients of the Adamian Award, through the vigor, breadth and sincerity of their work in service-learning, have distinguished themselves as caring and dedicated individuals.
The 2007 award recipients are Adam Nason, Ashley Stevens, Danielle Boczar, Justin Hagert and Michelle Paparazzo. The awards were presented on May 2 at the sixth annual Bentley Service-Learning Recognition Luncheon by Harry Adamian and Franklyn Salimbene, Director of the
Northeast
The
For more than five years, the
Bentley programs sponsored at Northeast include “America Clicks!,”
a computer training program for advanced elementary students; “America Reads”; “2+2=5,” a leadership and team-building program for fourth and fifth graders; “English Language Learners” for students whose native language is not English; and the “First Step to College” program for kindergarten students. Northeast has also
sponsored community service projects for Bentley’s Freshman Day
of Service program.
These programs have provided multiple service-learning opportunities for Bentley students in a range of business and liberal arts courses. These include computer information systems, management, modern languages, sociology, psychology and government.
In addition to these links, Bentley and Northeast have collaborated in other ways. In 2006, Bentley joined in support of Northeast’s grant application to fund an expansion of the leadership program. Also in 2006, Northeast named Danielle Boczar, a Bentley service-learning student leader, to the Northeast School Council. In addition, Bentley computer information system students have provided advanced computer training in a variety of computer and educational support software products for Northeast faculty and staff.
The relationship between Bentley and Northeast is mutually beneficial and ongoing. Northeast exemplifies the best qualities for maintaining and sustaining a strong and viable community partnership.
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Donald McNemar and Gregory Hall Receive Service-Learning Faculty Awards
In May 2007, the
Faculty who receive the award have demonstrated initiative in designing the service project, establishing a relationship with the appropriate community partner, overseeing project interaction between students and the community partner, and incorporating valuable critical thinking exercises into their teaching.
McNemar — a member of the International Studies Department —received the award for his service-learning course GO 403 “Model U.N. Seminar.” The learning goals for Bentley students in the course are to develop their understanding of the objectives and functions of the United Nations, to study in depth a current significant issue confronting the U.N., and to enhance their research, public speaking, and negotiation capabilities.
To assist in accomplishing these learning goals for his Bentley students, McNemar created a 4th-credit option project — the Bentley Middle School Model U.N. Conference. In developing the conference, he established a partnership with Stephen Goodwin, Social Science Director for the
The Bentley Middle School Model U.N. Conference operated as an after-school program based at the
Hall of the Natural and Applied Sciences Department received the award for his course PS 325 “Cyber Psychology.” The course examines the influences of information technology on human behavior. Course learning objectives include engaging students in primary research on a contemporary topic, enhancing their ability to analyze and synthesize data, and improving their presentational skills.
To accomplish course objectives, Hall worked with Mary Gormley, Assistant Superintendent of the
To prepare for the program, Hall’s class was divided into eight teams of two students. The student teams conducted independent research on all aspects of children and their use of the internet. The Bentley students also developed interactive activities and prepared their presentations. As a whole the class created four presentational modules on topics that included internet safety, social networking, and curriculum resources.
On October 27, 2006, 300
Many
Service-Learning Award Photos:
Adam Nason
Ashley Stevens
Danielle Boczar
Justin Hagert
Michelle Paparazzo
