School of Education & Social Policy

Service Learning Students Display Capstone Projects


Students completing SESP's Certificate in Service Learning program in 2008 presented posters of their Capstone Projects at a reception on June 6. Capstone Projects, which are designed as culminating experiences for second-year students in the two-year program, involve at least 100 hours of community service and a reflective analysis. Participating students, descriptions of their projects and sponsoring organizations are as follows:

ALISON SCHAFFER and ALLIE GORDON
 Legal Studies and Learning and Organizational Change
Evanston Youth Council: Planning and Implementation

While working with the City of Evanston, Schaeffer and Gordon created a pioneer youth council where students interact and discuss significant and current issues facing their neighborhoods.

Sponsor: The City of Evanston Youth Initiative
HALLE BAUER and NISHA AREKAPUDI
 Human Development and Psychological Services and Social Policy
Open Studio Project, Inc.: Marketing and Public Relations

Bauer and Arekapudi created press materials and a public relations strategy for Open Studio, a community art center whose mission is to stimulate creativity among community members of all ages. A press kit includes updated literature and marketing and public relations resources in the Chicago area that Open Studio can use for the media.

Sponsor: Open Studio Project, Inc.
ANN SCHRAUFNAGEL
 Global Health Studies
Healthy Collaborations 2008

Healthy Collaborations 2008 attempted to improve the health of children in Evanston. Schraufnagel distributed health manuals called What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick to Evanston parents.

Sponsor: Childcare Network of Evanston
CLAIRE OLSZEWSKI and RACHEL SALK
Learning and Organizational Change and Psychology
Boocoo Café: Strategic Promotion Plan

Olszewski and Salk focused on community outreach and publicity for Boocoo, a nonprofit community venue. They worked with Evanston Township High School, Evanston churches and the Northwestern community to advertise Boocoo and form relationships with other community groups.

Sponsor: Boocoo
BRAD WHITMAN and JANE WONG
 Social Policy and Learning and Organizational Change
Evanston/Skokie School District 65: Peer Jury Program

This project developed and implemented a Peer Jury program at Haven Middle School in Evanston. Peer jury is where students of the same age-group facilitate resolving disputes between people or small groups.

Sponsors: Evanston Community Defenders Office, Haven Middle School, Evanston/Skokie School District 65
AIREALE RODGERS
 Social Policy
How to Defy the Odds: Examining the Impact of Violence in the Community on Graduation Rates in Gage Park High School

Rogers used scholarly journals, articles, books and interviews with teachers, students and high school graduates to investigate the role of violence in the community and how students can look past violence to achieve a brighter future by getting their high school diploma.

Sponsor: Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)

RAE SHIH
 Social Policy
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: Service Learning Development
Shih's goal as a community consultant was to provide Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy with background literature materials for its service learning program as well as recommendations for a two-tiered system for student participation.

Sponsor: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

LOPA PATEL
Social Policy
City of Evanston: The Rental Housing Market of Evanston
 Patel assisted the Evanston Housing Commission in learning more about the characteristics of Evanston apartment buildings by surveying rental property owners and compiling the results in a final report.

Sponsor: City of Evanston Community Development Department, Planning Division

DANA O'NEAL and ALI FREDMAN
 Human Development and Psychological Services and Social Policy
Evanston Public Library: Expansion of LEAP (Literacy-Education-At-Play) Program and Curriculum for Every Child Ready to Read

 O'Neal and Fredman worked with the Evanston Public Library to expand the Literacy- Education-At-Play Program and curriculum for the Every Child Ready to Read parent education program to teach parents strategies, activities and tools to supplement school learning and reading every day.

Sponsor: Evanston Public Library
The Service Learning Certificate Program was created to more effectively integrate students' community service with their academic learning. While first-year students in the Certificate in Service Learning program sample a variety of community service organizations through 50 hours of volunteer work, second-year students focus on one service organization to complete the Capstone Project.
Prior to the Capstone Project, students selected for the program take three approved service learning courses and take part in facilitated learning activities.

The service learning program is based on the following understandings:
  • Community service provides important learning experiences.
  • Traditional classes provide a useful context for service learning.
  • Students can use the knowledge and skills gained through a formal curriculum and faculty guidance to improve the community.
  • Communities are strengthened by the capabilities students bring through service.
"This program provides Northwestern students with an invaluable opportunity to connect their hearts and their minds," says Nelson.

Students interested in applying to the program, which is open to all Northwestern undergraduates, may contact Bruce Nelson at 847/491-5383. Applications are considered during fall quarter.
By Marilyn Sherman
Last Modified: 8/14/09