2010 IACC Community Engagement Award Recipients
Pictured from left to right: Kathy Havens Payne (State Farm); Mandi McReynolds (Coe College); Dustin Killpack (Buena Vista University); Linda Danielson (CFUM); Walter Cannon (Central College); Neil Jackson (State Farm YAB)
On Nov. 16, 2010 during a breakfast reception at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa Campus Compact recognized recipients of the Iowa Campus Compact Community Engagement Awards sponsored by State Farm.
Faculty Award: Walter W. Cannon, Professor of English at Central College
Dr. Walter Cannon played an essential role in the initiative that ultimately resulted in an award-winning service-learning program and the establishment of Iowa Campus Compact. Dr. Cannon’s contributions include participation in a 30-institution alliance that included schools from around the country who studied civic engagement trends and provided leadership in their home states. Piloting the innovative “Civic Dialogue” which brings a small group of students and faculty to Des Moines for a discussion about important issues facing the community. The Civic Dialogue has been sustained and the model adopted by other professors. At least three such sessions will be hosted by Central College this academic year and so much more.
Collaborating to propose a grant in the early 1990s that funded the development of service-learning courses in five disciplines, one of which evolved into the current “Writing for Non-profit Organizations.” Since 2008, grant funds totaling over $38,000 have been awarded to community agencies as a result of proposals submitted by Dr. Cannon’s students in “Writing for Non-profit organizations.”
Since Dr. Cannon developed the writing class, a total of 114 students have served at approximately 70 different sites. Each student provides sustained service over the course of the semester; many students continue volunteering for the agency after the semester concludes. Dr. Cannon played an integral role in the creation and development of Central’s service-learning program that now places more than 600 students each year for semester-long service involvement. His advocacy among the faculty has led to the creation of more than 40 service-learning courses, seven of which are in his department, English. Last academic year, English was the second largest department in terms of service-learning student participation, sending more students to community settings than psychology and sociology combined. It is impossible to measure Dr. Cannon’s influence on students. It is an honor to present this year’s community engagement award to Walter as an outstanding Faculty member.
Staff Award: Mandi McReynolds, Director of Service-Learning and Leadership at Coe College
Mandi was hired at Coe College three years ago, and during this time, she has created an Office of Service Learning from scratch. When Mandi started working at Coe, the service completion rate was 14%. Last year, the completion rate was at 90%! Mandi’s commitment to community engagement shows with her relationship with community partners and students. Mandi has developed strong working relationships with 14 Cedar Rapids area non-profit organizations. She has hosted meetings with these organizations on campus and worked to foster excellent working relationships. She has also worked diligently to provide students with opportunities to be participate in service and to follow/develop their passions. In 2007, there were 0 students involved in National Service programs at Coe. Today, the college has 19 students involved in the Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps Education Award Program. Mandi is a mentor and role model to these students and has helped them to move beyond passivity to action.
Student Award: Dustin Killpack, Senior at Buena Vista University
This year’s outstanding student is Dustin Killpack. Since becoming a student at Buena Vista University, Dustin wasted no time getting his presence known in the community by volunteering at multiple local service organizations. On campus Dustin has set a great precedence on volunteering for other students. Two of the key attributes that distinguishes Dustin from other students is his commitment to encouraging youth to become more civically engaged and always trying to enhance existing programs. He is one of the Co-Presidents of Student M.O.V.E. the leading community service and outreach group on campus, and has contributed to a large expansion in the M.O.V.E. Board as well as in their volunteer numbers. Dustin has also done an amazing job reaching out into the community. He co-founded and serves as co-leader of a 4-H group here in Storm Lake. After working at the afterschool program in the middle school for three years, Dustin has started developing new programs that focus on teach middle school student the importance of service and how service has changed in the twenty-first century. Since Dustin has enrolled at BV he has logged 1,264.74 hours of community service.
Dustin has developed a great understanding of community needs and issues from his work with all of these local organizations. He has taken this knowledge and applied it into to real programs here in the communities that are upheld by student volunteers. He has taken his knowledge of community engagement and has become an craftsman of getting other students engaged in service.
Community Partner Award: Children and Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) located in Des Moines
Children and Family Urban Ministries’ engagement in urban Des Moines has been significant, meaningful, and committed since 1992 when the organization was established on the assumption that each member of society has potential to engage meaningfully in community. CFUM vow to community engagement is shown through their work with colleges and students. CFUM has partnered with at least seven Iowa colleges as well as several Des Moines area high schools to provide opportunities for students to engage in meaningful, effective service where they learn firsthand how community-based organizations address the needs of families in urban settings. Student voice is valued and utilized, and that students feel that their contributions matter. Each student meets with the operations manager prior to beginning their service; the goal is to reflect on the student’s goals and interests and to discuss a variety of ways that they can serve. The language of their mission statement makes clear the importance of community engagement to CFUM. It states “In partnership with our neighbors, Children and Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) addresses the challenges and builds on the strengths of those living on the near north side of Des Moines. CFUM seeks to create welcome, nurture lives, and promote social and economic justice by bringing together a broad and inclusive community to share the resources and abundance meant for all.”
Faculty Award: Walter W. Cannon, Professor of English at Central College
Dr. Walter Cannon played an essential role in the initiative that ultimately resulted in an award-winning service-learning program and the establishment of Iowa Campus Compact. Dr. Cannon’s contributions include participation in a 30-institution alliance that included schools from around the country who studied civic engagement trends and provided leadership in their home states. Piloting the innovative “Civic Dialogue” which brings a small group of students and faculty to Des Moines for a discussion about important issues facing the community. The Civic Dialogue has been sustained and the model adopted by other professors. At least three such sessions will be hosted by Central College this academic year and so much more.
Collaborating to propose a grant in the early 1990s that funded the development of service-learning courses in five disciplines, one of which evolved into the current “Writing for Non-profit Organizations.” Since 2008, grant funds totaling over $38,000 have been awarded to community agencies as a result of proposals submitted by Dr. Cannon’s students in “Writing for Non-profit organizations.”
Since Dr. Cannon developed the writing class, a total of 114 students have served at approximately 70 different sites. Each student provides sustained service over the course of the semester; many students continue volunteering for the agency after the semester concludes. Dr. Cannon played an integral role in the creation and development of Central’s service-learning program that now places more than 600 students each year for semester-long service involvement. His advocacy among the faculty has led to the creation of more than 40 service-learning courses, seven of which are in his department, English. Last academic year, English was the second largest department in terms of service-learning student participation, sending more students to community settings than psychology and sociology combined. It is impossible to measure Dr. Cannon’s influence on students. It is an honor to present this year’s community engagement award to Walter as an outstanding Faculty member.
Staff Award: Mandi McReynolds, Director of Service-Learning and Leadership at Coe College
Mandi was hired at Coe College three years ago, and during this time, she has created an Office of Service Learning from scratch. When Mandi started working at Coe, the service completion rate was 14%. Last year, the completion rate was at 90%! Mandi’s commitment to community engagement shows with her relationship with community partners and students. Mandi has developed strong working relationships with 14 Cedar Rapids area non-profit organizations. She has hosted meetings with these organizations on campus and worked to foster excellent working relationships. She has also worked diligently to provide students with opportunities to be participate in service and to follow/develop their passions. In 2007, there were 0 students involved in National Service programs at Coe. Today, the college has 19 students involved in the Iowa Campus Compact AmeriCorps Education Award Program. Mandi is a mentor and role model to these students and has helped them to move beyond passivity to action.
Student Award: Dustin Killpack, Senior at Buena Vista University
This year’s outstanding student is Dustin Killpack. Since becoming a student at Buena Vista University, Dustin wasted no time getting his presence known in the community by volunteering at multiple local service organizations. On campus Dustin has set a great precedence on volunteering for other students. Two of the key attributes that distinguishes Dustin from other students is his commitment to encouraging youth to become more civically engaged and always trying to enhance existing programs. He is one of the Co-Presidents of Student M.O.V.E. the leading community service and outreach group on campus, and has contributed to a large expansion in the M.O.V.E. Board as well as in their volunteer numbers. Dustin has also done an amazing job reaching out into the community. He co-founded and serves as co-leader of a 4-H group here in Storm Lake. After working at the afterschool program in the middle school for three years, Dustin has started developing new programs that focus on teach middle school student the importance of service and how service has changed in the twenty-first century. Since Dustin has enrolled at BV he has logged 1,264.74 hours of community service.
Dustin has developed a great understanding of community needs and issues from his work with all of these local organizations. He has taken this knowledge and applied it into to real programs here in the communities that are upheld by student volunteers. He has taken his knowledge of community engagement and has become an craftsman of getting other students engaged in service.
Community Partner Award: Children and Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) located in Des Moines
Children and Family Urban Ministries’ engagement in urban Des Moines has been significant, meaningful, and committed since 1992 when the organization was established on the assumption that each member of society has potential to engage meaningfully in community. CFUM vow to community engagement is shown through their work with colleges and students. CFUM has partnered with at least seven Iowa colleges as well as several Des Moines area high schools to provide opportunities for students to engage in meaningful, effective service where they learn firsthand how community-based organizations address the needs of families in urban settings. Student voice is valued and utilized, and that students feel that their contributions matter. Each student meets with the operations manager prior to beginning their service; the goal is to reflect on the student’s goals and interests and to discuss a variety of ways that they can serve. The language of their mission statement makes clear the importance of community engagement to CFUM. It states “In partnership with our neighbors, Children and Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) addresses the challenges and builds on the strengths of those living on the near north side of Des Moines. CFUM seeks to create welcome, nurture lives, and promote social and economic justice by bringing together a broad and inclusive community to share the resources and abundance meant for all.”
