Seniors Denise DiMeglio (left) and JoannaBowen head the steering committee for<strong>Villanova</strong>’s Saturday Habitat program.(Opposite page) Mike Cunningham, ajunior, also is one of the students seekingto build the “<strong>Villanova</strong> House.”inspired him to become a volunteer. Patrick’sfather, Frank K. Monaghan ’78 VSB, decidedto help out the <strong>Villanova</strong> students who volunteerwith Habitat; he offered a donationfrom the Patrick F. Monaghan Memorial Foundationthat the family had established to keepalive Patrick’s dreams and goals (visit www.patricksdreams.org).Noted Cunningham, “Everyone travels on servicetrips during the fall, spring and summer, butwe thought there’s work here to be done. So that’swhere we started. Montgomery County Habitatsaid that they had some houses that needed to besponsored and asked, ‘Are you interested?’ ”The students are raising the money on theirown. As of December 2006, they had raised about$15,000 through various campaigns and their owningenuity, according to Saramarie Bittmann ofCampus Ministry, who advises them. They alsohave received some donations, so they haveenough to put down a deposit.Recently, Citibank has designated a contributionto Habitat in support of the whole housesponsorship for this first “<strong>Villanova</strong> House.”But the students still have a long way to go ifthey wish to continue sponsoring and buildingHabitat homes as a permanent venture, which<strong>Villanova</strong> is interested in doing.There is no doubt that these students haveraised awareness on campus. They set up informationtables at “the Oreo” and in other areas.They visited several academic departments tospread the word. They posted signs and posterswith facts about homelessness and Habitat. Theyhave expended a lot of time and effort to advancethe cause. Still, even raising awareness is noteasy, and the news has not spread far enough tomake this long-term sponsorship viable.“Advertising campaigns are difficult oncampus,” Cunningham said. “How do we reachout to the surrounding <strong>Villanova</strong> community—faculty, staff, students and alumni—withoutcalling them up and bugging them for money?How do we organize fundraising events withinthe confines of the <strong>University</strong>? Our No. 1 priorityis raising awareness, not raising money.”If you were to meet these volunteers, youwould be impressed. When Cunningham speaksabout the importance of volunteering, younotice first of all his energy and passion.“The service experience sponsored for studentsduring break trips emphasizes work, reflection andaction,” Cunningham explained. “The coordinatororganizes group reflections for students during andafter the trips. Students are urged to reflect onwhat the experience of performing service for othersmeans to them,” he added. “So when studentsreturn from going to local service sites, we need toJOHN WELSH (BOTH)fulfill those last two components. Students needto reflect on the whole service experience and whatit means to them. They need to decide what furtheraction they will take. The third component of theservice experience is action. That’s where we reallycome in. We take hands-on action, work togetheras a community and provide somethingconcrete—a house—for someone else.”Another student on the Saturday Habitatcommittee, Katrine Herrick, a junior managementmajor, had suggested that if everyoneon campus could donate $10, students couldpurchase the “<strong>Villanova</strong> House.”To give Father Donohue a better understandingof their goal, the students invited him to adinner featuring a presentation on the “<strong>Villanova</strong>House,” according to DiMeglio and Bowen.Father Donohue, a firm believer in the valueof volunteering, recalled the students’ presentation.“They said, ‘All we’re asking for is $10 fromeach person.’ I thought, I spend $10 for lunch! Itis not a whole lot of money,” Father Donohuesaid. “It was a resourceful idea. It was a reallyclever idea. I really admire their desire to do thisand their energy. I was so impressed with theiringenuity and their desire to do this, their workand their planning, that I thought it would be agood story for <strong>Villanova</strong> Magazine. Publicizingtheir plan should help them get it started.”To help the students further raise awareness,Father Donohue brought the idea to theattention of <strong>Villanova</strong>’s Board of Trustees. Heallowed DiMeglio and Bowen to make presentationsto the board, as well as to local alumnichapters. They outlined their project for thePhiladelphia Chapter on November 29, 2006.Father Donohue added, “This house willallow <strong>Villanova</strong> to have the opportunity tosend students there in the future. And it willbe called the ‘<strong>Villanova</strong> House.’ ” For FatherDonohue, future is a key word. He very muchwants <strong>Villanova</strong> to further its Habitat partnershipthrough the whole house sponsorship.Once the students complete the “<strong>Villanova</strong>House” in the spring of 2008, it will provide abrand-new home—in move-in condition—for ahard-working family. It will have taught the studentsa lot about work, service and entrepreneurship,and much more than fundraising orconstruction skills. But then they’re alreadyaware of the priceless educational and emotionalvalue of their project, and the long-rangeimpact it could have for future <strong>Villanova</strong> students.Nevertheless, before they can raise moreroofs, they need to raise more funds.While volunteering at theNorth Philadelphia Habitatsite last September during<strong>Villanova</strong>’s Community Day ofService, Frank K. Monaghan’78 VSB (left) received ahelping hand from the Rev.Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A.,’75 A&S, <strong>University</strong> president.Father Donohue made theDay of Service an integral partof his Inauguration.Be Part ofthe “<strong>Villanova</strong>House”For more informationabout Habitat forHumanity service opportunities,please visitwww.campusministry.villanova.edu/ssj/breakexperiences/habitat.html.To donate to this projectand to support thestudents’ future Habitatefforts, please sendyour checks (payable to<strong>Villanova</strong> <strong>University</strong>) to:Office of the President<strong>Villanova</strong> <strong>University</strong>800 Lancaster Ave.<strong>Villanova</strong>, PA 19085AWinter 2007 45
Adults Discoverthe Value of a$Three graduates reflect on the flexible way they foundto complete their degree part-time.BY KELLY MIMNAUGH ’08 A&SA HealthyApproach to Life:Diana Penna’88 A&SAt age 20, DianaPenna ’88 A&Swas offered a fulltimejob at WCAU-TV(NBC 10) in Philadelphia,an opportunity shecould not let pass her by.So halfway through herundergraduate education,she decided to switchfrom <strong>Villanova</strong> <strong>University</strong>’sfull-time program toPart-Time Studies.Although apprehensiveabout taking on a fulltimetelevision job whilestill attending classes at night, Pennarealized that this experience wouldcomplement her education by providingher with practical knowledge.In 2008, <strong>Villanova</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s Part-Time Studies will celebrate its90th anniversary. Since 1918, this division has provided thousandsof adults with the opportunity to earn a degree conveniently onevenings and weekends. Through a commitment to treat eachstudent’s individual needs and objectives, Part-Time Studies hassucceeded in assisting adults with diverse academic agendas. Theycan enroll to earn a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, prepare forgraduate and professional school, and enrich their previouseducation with new knowledge.Part-Time Studies has produced some of the <strong>University</strong>’s mostsuccessful alumni, people with amazing stories who activelycontribute to the <strong>Villanova</strong> community. These graduates andcurrent students continue to inspire the world of higher educationthrough their persistence, dedication and powerful determination.At WCAU-TV, Penna worked withHerb Denenberg, a top consumer reporter,and his team to research investigative stories.Her time at the television stationgave Penna the hands-onexperience she was lookingfor and ultimately inspiredher to become a healthreporter. Through Part-Time Studies, Penna graduatedwith a double major incommunication arts andEnglish while gaining ameaningful experience inher intended career.Looking back upon herlife-changing decision,Penna credits Dr. RobertD. Stokes for providingthe guidance she needed(he is now assistant vicepresident for academicaffairs in Part-Time andContinuing Studies). “Dr.Stokes helped me a greatdeal to make this decision,and I always rememberand still appreciate hishelp and guidance,” she said. “I try toguide other young people I meet becauseI remember the time he took with meand what a difference it made.”46 <strong>Villanova</strong> Magazine
Change language