WMU News

Two faculty members recognized for community service

Nov. 11, 1997

KALAMAZOO -- Two Western Michigan University faculty members will be recognized Friday, Nov. 14, for their efforts to instill in their students a life-long love for community service.

Dr. Linda L. Powell, assistant professor of health, physical education and recreation, and Dr. Joseph G. Reish, dean of the Lee Honors College, will receive Michigan Campus Compact Faculty of the Year Awards during ceremonies at Michigan State University. Powell's award is for 1996 and Reish will be honored for his work in 1997.

Powell, Reish and other 1996 and 1997 honorees from among MCC's 26 member campuses will be recognized with certificates acknowledging their commitment to community service during a luncheon ceremony at MCC's Second Faculty and Service Learning Institute. That day-long workshop at the Kellogg Center will focus on exploring methods for integrating community service into the college classroom.

Powell will be honored for activities that include encouraging all of her students to volunteer and requiring that each attend the annual campus Volunteer Opportunities Fair. She also has collaborated extensively with local non-profit agencies to develop opportunities for her students to participate in recreational activities for youth and senior citizens.

Reish has been active in developing honors courses that involve service learning as part of the practical course work. Among the activities for which he is being honored are a children's literature effort that puts Lee Honors College students into local schools to read to children and his support of the Honors Students Association's work with the Kalamazoo Public Education Foundation's Project Mentor.

Earlier this year, each MCC member institution was given an opportunity to select faculty members to be honored for their work in 1996 and 1997. Powell and Reish were selected for the awards by the 25 students from organizations across the campus who comprise WMU's Student Volunteer Services Advisory Board.

The MCC is an action-oriented demonstration project that encourages voluntary community service opportunities for students and promotes education for citizenship by supporting service and internships. The coalition of Michigan universities and colleges, which is based in East Lansing, is affiliated with Campus Compact, a national project sponsored by the Education Commission of the States.


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news