Serve. Learn. Change.
by Betty White, Service Learning Director
Serve. Learn. Change. That’s exactly what our students are doing. In addition, they are also teaching others how to serve, as evidenced at the annual Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service Learning earlier this week.
Serve. Learn. Change. That’s exactly what our students are doing. In addition, they are also teaching others how to serve, as evidenced at the annual Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service Learning earlier this week.
Sarah Alberts, Sophie Campbell, Evie Kennedy, and Maddie Robin began with the first workshop on Monday by presenting their experience of building their social business, "grow." Intrigued by an assembly presentation given by students from Vanderbilt’s Microfinance Club last year, this group formed their own microfinance club, which has evolved into a community activism class designed to promote nutritional products in food deserts in the Nashville Community. As their business takes off and grows, the plan is to put money back into our community, supporting other nutritional food projects.
Hannah Dobie and Sophia Jelsma led the last session on Monday afternoon by helping participants develop their own plans for a community service day at their respective schools. Presenting their highly successful model, PEACEing It Together, and using templates of our high school Community Service Day 2011, these leaders explained how such a successful venture can be planned, led, and implemented by high school students. Hannah and Sophia also displayed a showcase to enable others to learn about Community Service Day.
Meredith Forrester and Lindsey Khim closed the conference workshops on Tuesday afternoon with Just Because: the incentive for mentoring. Using the USN high school Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program as their primary model, these presenters directed their audience through activities and questions which examined the roles of mentors and how people can be successful mentors.
In addition to these student leaders, Bondetta Agazuma, teacher at Cameron Middle School, and I explained the successful partnership between USN and CMS. By articulating successes and achievements of the USN Writing and Service class, we encouraged participants to develop partnerships within their communities.
Not only did students exhibit knowledge and teach others—teachers, counselors, administrators, and peers—they also enjoyed attending presentations of other groups and meeting high schoolers from around the state. Each student commented on how much fun she had meeting students with similar interests, and everyone left feeling inspired and motivated to continue to serve, learn, and change our community.
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Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.