Statewide Service-Learning Awards Presented

Lansing, Michigan – Today three excellent service-learning champions received accolades from the Michigan Community Service Commission.  An exceptional school administrator, teacher, and service-learning program were honored with a 2005 Outstanding Service-Learning Award at the 9th Annual Institute on Service-Learning.  These awards recognize the very best in Michigan’s service-learning community.  Three awards are given annually—one to an administrator, one to a teacher/practitioner, and one to an innovative service-learning program.

The Administrator Award is presented to an administrator in a K-12 school district who serves as a model of leadership.  This person demonstrates both vision and leadership in the expansion of service-learning at both the building and district levels.  The award recipient also helps nurture others in the field to expand their service-learning knowledge and skills.

Mr. Patrick Mulcahy, principal at L’Anse Creuse High School, is the recipient of the 2005 Administrator Award.  He has exuberant passion for community service and supports service-learning as the best method for providing quality service experiences for the youth.  He has made service-learning a priority for all teachers, recognizes outstanding service-learning performance, and provides access to high-quality resources.  Students are seen as key resources by Mr. Mulcahy and their leadership has helped form the service-learning curriculum.  Mr. Mulcahy has presented at national and statewide events.  He motivates and inspires fellow educators and is well respected by his staff and peers.

The Innovative Program Award is presented to a K-12 service-learning program that demonstrates innovation and excellence.  The program incorporates key elements of high-quality service-learning and has a sustainable impact on the participants and the community.

The Healthy Kids Initiative – Resistance Antibiotics (pictured above) from the Whitehall District Schools’ AP Biology class is the recipient of the 2005 Innovative Program Award.  Twelfth grade students mentored elementary school students to teach them how to stay healthy, prevent illness, and protect their antibiotic lifeline.   More than 450 students learned ways, approved by the Center for Disease Control, to reduce transmission of many infectious diseases.  The Healthy Kids Initiative fit hand-in-hand with the school’s academic service-learning curriculum.  The high school students designed, implemented, and evaluated their project based on the needs of the younger students.

The Teacher/Practitioner Award is presented to a teacher who serves as a model of leadership.  This person helps nurture others in the field expand their service-learning knowledge and skills.  The award recipient demonstrates the ability to incorporate the essential elements of service-learning in practice and has provided youth opportunities to lead and serve.

Mrs. Nicole Hite of the Bedford Public Schools Community Education Department is being honored with the Teacher/Practitioner Award.  Her involvement with academic service-learning for the past three years has been an inspiration to her students and fellow teachers.  Mrs. Hite provides leadership opportunities for her students in the classroom, in the school building, and throughout the school district.  She also reaches out to other teachers, develops model programs, and serves as a service-learning resource in the community.  Her third grade students have participated in projects involving economics, the democratic process, art, technology, mathematics, character education, and critical thinking.

The awards were presented at an evening celebration at the Ninth Annual Institute on Service-Learning on February 17, 2005 at Adrian College.  Also presented at the celebration were the Outstanding Student Service Awards and the Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Awards, which are sponsored by Michigan Campus Compact.