Grace Applied Learning Students Hear about Opportunities
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Grace held its first Applied Learning Fair at Westminster Hall with participating organizations on hand.
Beginning Jan. 1, Grace students must complete 12 credits of Applied Learning to graduate. One credit equals 40 hours of service. The Applied Learning requirement will be applied to new students coming in this fall. For sophomores through seniors, it will be pro-rated but not required for them to graduate.
Randy Polston, program director, said the fair “is an opportunity for students to meet and greet those in the community who have connected” with the program. Polston has a list of 42 organizations who have indicated they are on board with the program, and 35 of them set up booths at the fair.
He said the fair gives students the opportunity to come in, look at the different experiences and ask questions to see what they’re interested in. The experiences will be listed as courses as students start working toward their credits.
Some of the experiences will fall in the area of a student’s major, some won’t. Polston said they encourage students to not just concentrate on their major.
Pam Chastain, Church of the Good Shepherd director of student ministries, said the church has a lot of opportunities in youth ministry. If a student wants to help with the ministry, there’s junior church and Good Shepherd Preschool.
Administratively, students can help with things like music and technology at the school.
Barry Andrew, Alcohol and Drug Program director with the Kosciusko County Probation Department, said the KCPD was offering Grace students “opportunities to explore and learn the intricacies of the legal system and also learn the structure of the probation department and the positive effects it has on the community.”
Students will work within the whole department, Andrew said, and get a feel for the adult, juvenile and drug/alcohol sides of the department.
Syracuse Town Marshal Tony Ciriello said Grace students will be able to ride with officers on patrol with the goal of learning about justice from the officers’ perspective.
“They will be assigned to spend at least a portion of the day or a full day with Drug Task Force officers to understand the drug problems we have and undercover operations,” Ciriello said.
Another goal, he said, is for the students to understand the criminal statutes and how they have to meet certain criteria to make an arrest.
MutualBank Area Manager for Kosciusko County Stephanie Salyer said when a student comes in, they will be treated like a new employee. They could end up doing a variety of jobs.
Jayne Powers, MutualBank human resources consultant, said for the job students need to have good math, people and computer skills. They need to have good common sense and communication skills, along with “a professional attitude and a professional appearance.”
As for the bank participating in Grace’s Applied Learning program, Salyer said, “Being part of the community is important to use, but we’re also always looking for employees, bringing them along and mentoring them.”
“One thing we are proud of,” Powers said, “is that wherever we have a location, our employees are active in the community and it’s important for us to give back.”
Grace students have an opportunity to work at the Warsaw Area Career Center with high school students in the robotics classroom or club.
“Our goal is for Grace students to be a mentor for the Warsaw robotics class or club whether they’re mechanically inclined or not,” said Abbi Richcreek, teacher. “It does help if they enjoy hands-on work. It’s just another way for high school students to interact with college students and help them transition on to college.”
Grace Village Retirement Community Director of Advancement Jo Faulkner and Karen Clark, human resources, were looking for Grace students who wanted to volunteer for activities with the Grace Village residents or volunteer for events.
“They have to have compassion, patience and empathy,” said Faulkner. “Good listening skills. If they listen, the stories our residents have are amazing.”
Baker Youth Club Executive Director Tracy Furnivall was looking for Grace Lancers interested in being homework helpers, community involvement, mentors or supervisors of educational and physical activities.
He said they were targeting students in the educational or youth services fields.
The Club has expanded to not only include Warsaw but also Claypool, North Webster and Syracuse. There’s a huge need with the homework club. As the winter sets in, he said they are seeing an average of 60 to 70 kids a night at the club.
Grace freshman Amelia Serafino, an elementary education major, said the Applied Learning program is a good idea.
“I think it’s pretty cool. I think it’s a good opportunity to learn about your major more and to see if you want to do it,” Serafino said.
Freshman Jessica Otteman agreed, saying, “I think it’s a great opportunity to have experience, before you get out of college, in a variety of different fields.”[[In-content Ad]]
Grace held its first Applied Learning Fair at Westminster Hall with participating organizations on hand.
Beginning Jan. 1, Grace students must complete 12 credits of Applied Learning to graduate. One credit equals 40 hours of service. The Applied Learning requirement will be applied to new students coming in this fall. For sophomores through seniors, it will be pro-rated but not required for them to graduate.
Randy Polston, program director, said the fair “is an opportunity for students to meet and greet those in the community who have connected” with the program. Polston has a list of 42 organizations who have indicated they are on board with the program, and 35 of them set up booths at the fair.
He said the fair gives students the opportunity to come in, look at the different experiences and ask questions to see what they’re interested in. The experiences will be listed as courses as students start working toward their credits.
Some of the experiences will fall in the area of a student’s major, some won’t. Polston said they encourage students to not just concentrate on their major.
Pam Chastain, Church of the Good Shepherd director of student ministries, said the church has a lot of opportunities in youth ministry. If a student wants to help with the ministry, there’s junior church and Good Shepherd Preschool.
Administratively, students can help with things like music and technology at the school.
Barry Andrew, Alcohol and Drug Program director with the Kosciusko County Probation Department, said the KCPD was offering Grace students “opportunities to explore and learn the intricacies of the legal system and also learn the structure of the probation department and the positive effects it has on the community.”
Students will work within the whole department, Andrew said, and get a feel for the adult, juvenile and drug/alcohol sides of the department.
Syracuse Town Marshal Tony Ciriello said Grace students will be able to ride with officers on patrol with the goal of learning about justice from the officers’ perspective.
“They will be assigned to spend at least a portion of the day or a full day with Drug Task Force officers to understand the drug problems we have and undercover operations,” Ciriello said.
Another goal, he said, is for the students to understand the criminal statutes and how they have to meet certain criteria to make an arrest.
MutualBank Area Manager for Kosciusko County Stephanie Salyer said when a student comes in, they will be treated like a new employee. They could end up doing a variety of jobs.
Jayne Powers, MutualBank human resources consultant, said for the job students need to have good math, people and computer skills. They need to have good common sense and communication skills, along with “a professional attitude and a professional appearance.”
As for the bank participating in Grace’s Applied Learning program, Salyer said, “Being part of the community is important to use, but we’re also always looking for employees, bringing them along and mentoring them.”
“One thing we are proud of,” Powers said, “is that wherever we have a location, our employees are active in the community and it’s important for us to give back.”
Grace students have an opportunity to work at the Warsaw Area Career Center with high school students in the robotics classroom or club.
“Our goal is for Grace students to be a mentor for the Warsaw robotics class or club whether they’re mechanically inclined or not,” said Abbi Richcreek, teacher. “It does help if they enjoy hands-on work. It’s just another way for high school students to interact with college students and help them transition on to college.”
Grace Village Retirement Community Director of Advancement Jo Faulkner and Karen Clark, human resources, were looking for Grace students who wanted to volunteer for activities with the Grace Village residents or volunteer for events.
“They have to have compassion, patience and empathy,” said Faulkner. “Good listening skills. If they listen, the stories our residents have are amazing.”
Baker Youth Club Executive Director Tracy Furnivall was looking for Grace Lancers interested in being homework helpers, community involvement, mentors or supervisors of educational and physical activities.
He said they were targeting students in the educational or youth services fields.
The Club has expanded to not only include Warsaw but also Claypool, North Webster and Syracuse. There’s a huge need with the homework club. As the winter sets in, he said they are seeing an average of 60 to 70 kids a night at the club.
Grace freshman Amelia Serafino, an elementary education major, said the Applied Learning program is a good idea.
“I think it’s pretty cool. I think it’s a good opportunity to learn about your major more and to see if you want to do it,” Serafino said.
Freshman Jessica Otteman agreed, saying, “I think it’s a great opportunity to have experience, before you get out of college, in a variety of different fields.”[[In-content Ad]]
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