On May 3rd, the Community-University Partnerships and Service-Learning Office (CUPS) announced the recipients of its Engaged Scholarship Awards at the 7th Annual CUPS Recognition Reception. Nominations were judged on the quality of engaged scholarship demonstrated in courses between Spring 2010 and 2011 semesters. The Outstanding Service-Learning Student Award was presented to Alex Finn, an active member of the Dewey House for Civic Engagement. As a student in the Civic Engagement and Self-Reflection course, Alex has demonstrated outstanding commitment to service beyond course expectations. The Outstanding Community Partner Award was awarded to Peter DeGraff of Otter Creek Engineering, who worked enthusiastically with students from CDAE 171 “Community and Economic Transformation” to create successful community-based water systems projects in Honduras. The Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award was awarded to Shelly Rayback, Geography, for her exemplary partnership with The Nature Conservancy on a dendrochronology project in the LePlatte Rivermarsh Natural Area. The inauguralCUPS Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to long-time CUPS supporter, collaborator, and passionate friend Janet Bossange.
Service-Learning Planning grants support the development of new initiatives or partnerships that will result in service-learning or community-based research in the future. Spring 2011 grants have been awarded toCecilia Danks (RSENR) for building community-based forestry projects at Harwood Union High School,Cynthia Reyes (Education) to support a digital research project with English Language Leaners (ELL) at Winooski Middle School, and Thomas DeSisto & Kelly Hamshaw (CDAE) for developing a holistic assessment model for the CDAE 186 Saint Lucia international service-learning experience.
