Stander Symposium abstract book - University of Dayton

Service Learning: The Importance of Civic Engagement
Presenter(s): Carson M Smith
Advisor(s): Lori G Phillips-Young
English - Independent Research
POSTER SESSION 2
The Sophomore Social Justice Service Learning Community (SSJSL) has a mission is to promote literacy in the Greater Dayton/Miami Valley district.
The SJSLC’s community partner, the non-profit organization Project READ, trains volunteers to help tutor students in grades K-8 and young adults.
After training, I was assigned a tutoring position with students at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Dayton. I have been working
with a student named D’Angelo helping him with his math and reading skills. While he is currently in 7th grade, both his math and reading
scores are not at a 7th grade level. We work one-on-one to improve his math and reading concepts. I have really enjoyed working with D’Angelo
and developing a personal relationship with him as he had helped me to understand the struggles that he and many other urban students face
at school. Service learning has allowed me to engage with younger students in our local community as well as to promote justice. It is a personal
way to apply the Marianist ideals of lead, learn, and serve.
Teaching and Learning to Make a Difference
Presenter(s): Kathryn M Schilling, Lisa C VonDrasek, Katherine A Zikias
Advisor(s): Matthew D Archer, Meredith L Doench, Monalisa M Mullins, Lori G Phillips-Young,
Margaret M Strain
English - Course Project, 12_SP_PHL_103_02
The Building Communities through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort (BCSJLLC) helps students understand the importance of social justice
and its impact on communities while providing students with opportunities to grow as leaders. Its primary mission is literacy and many BSCJLLC
members tutored students in the community. Members were trained by our community partner, Project READ, to tutor students in K-8 and young
adults. Project READ then placed us at the Dayton Early College Academy (DECA). DECA is adjacent to the University of Dayton and is focused on
preparing students for college. We tutored three students in the seventh and eighth grade. In the course of our service, we learned how much
difference one or two hours a week can in helping a student to pursue a higher education. Our service included helping students with the homework
that is most difficult for them (usually math), and reiterating key concepts that the students had difficulty with. Those of us that tutored
were pleased to learn that many of our students’ grades were improved as a result of our relationships. Plunges at UD are are also a way of civic
engagement. The Immigration and Refugee Plunge. sponsored by the Center for Social Concern, took place on March 24th, 2012. This experience
allowed us to see and experience first-hand the problems associated with the immigration application process for those seeking to enter the
United States. While on campus, we were shown documentaries about the immigration process and held discussions with immigrants who had
direct experience immigrating into the US. The time we spent performing service in our community and learning about the ways we can impact
legislation regarding the issues around immigration all reinforces our commitment to social justice and epitomizes and employs the Marianist
ideals of lead, learn, and serve.
The Difference We Make is in the Doing
Presenter(s): Emily J Buroker, Kelly A Schlarman, Olivia A Wilcox
Advisor(s): Matthew D Archer, Meredith L Doench, William H Johnston, Monalisa M Mullins,
Lori G Phillips-Young, Margaret M Strain
English - Course Project, 12_SP_ENG_102_B2
As active members of the Building Community through Social Justice Learning and Living Cohort, we are helping to build and improve the community
we live in. Our cohort’s mission is to promote literacy. The non-profit agency Project READ taught us special techniques for working with
younger students in grades K-8. Some of these techniques were determining if the student is an auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learner. They also
taught us how color can help a student learn better. We tutor in an after school tutoring program at the Holy Angels Elementary School. Our mission
is to help improve the students vocabulary and reading ability. We encourage and support our students learning by assisting them with their
reading skills. As we develop personal relationships with our students, we are able to encourage their learning by being positive role models. As
tutors we do a variety of activities with the children to improve their reading. We use block letters to spell out different vocabulary words, we read
back and forth with the students, we work through spelling books, and we employ flash cards with letter sounds on them to help them recognize
85