Passionately devoted to civic service, Elizabeth Ackley ’11 was named outstanding volunteer of the year Monday evening at the first Volunteer Appreciation Banquet in Old Chapel.
“I just think it’s really important to get involved,” Ackley said of her work at the Kenney Community Center. “The relationships formed between the children of Schenectady and Union students are so monumental – it’s unbelievable the difference it can make in the lives of both parties.”
The banquet was held to celebrate the College’s recent national community service award. In February, Union was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a school can receive for its commitment to service learning and civic engagement.
In 2007-08, 762 Union students participated in a range of community service projects, representing more than 7,700 hours of service. Volunteers at the Kenney Center tutored and read to local children, acted as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and participated in the state Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program (VITA).
Ackley, for her part, undertook a portion of her sophomore project at the Kenney Center by adding an art component to the America Reads program. America Reads seeks to help schoolchildren expand their reading skills and improve their overall learning.
“It was something the center didn’t have before,” Ackley said. “Art-focused learning is a really good tool for kids since it allows them to express themselves creatively while they learn.”
Ackley implemented her efforts during the winter term, a period Kenney Center Director Angela Tatem said is usually accompanied by decreased attendance. This winter, however, Ackley’s work helped maintain a high participation rate in America Reads.
Other Union students were also recognized Monday for their leadership roles in various Kenney Center outreach programs:
Lativa Holder ’10: For her involvement with the Homework and Skills Development program.
Cybil Tribie ’11: For her leadership in the U-CARE program and the PACS project.
Lucas Jancok, Czech Republic international student: For teaching the Junior Science Program.
Antonio Gutierrez ’10: For his role in the America Reads Literacy program, and for his efforts to start a youth boxing and tutoring program called Champions.
Santos Avila ’08: For his help with AmeriCorps VISTA, Habitat for Humanity and other outreach efforts.
Malebogo Thlajoane '11: For her leadership in the U-CARE program.
College President Stephen Ainlay was the keynote speaker at the banquet.