The Azusa Pacific Blog » Academics

So What Is Service-Learning?: Reflections of a Novice Service-Learning Enthusiast

Catherine Wade — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:46:42 +0000

By: Kristine Cody

I have gotten acquainted with Service-Learning through my
work as a graduate intern in Azusa Pacific University’s Center for Academic
Service-Learning & Research. With that statement, I feel that I must also
give a disclaimer – I’ve been in this position for a month and a half. I know
my words won’t perfectly capture what Service-Learning is but I hope that they
will shed light on the journey of discovering its likeness.

Service-Learning is when service – and – learning are
equally incorporated in an institution’s efforts to address community needs. Whether
done by a department, an individual, or by educators themselves, there is a key
coordinator, such as APU’s Service-Learning office, in this process that
matches classroom curriculum with relevant service projects.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Elizabeth Russo

Catherine Wade — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:11:47 +0000

Liz is a graduating senior, and has worked in the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research (CASLR) as a Service-Learning Advocate (SLA) since the fall of her sophomore year. She hales from Rancho Cucamonga, CA and has one little sister, Katie, who is also an APU undergraduate and has just been hired as a new SLA. Liz has majored in Psychology, and is starting a Masters program in Marriage Family Therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary in the fall.

Liz has thoroughly enjoyed her time as an SLA. She loves the excellent community and support at the CASLR. The weekly staff meeting prayer times have reminded her to slow down and take interest in the lives of those around her. Liz also appreciates the professional development skills this position has increased in her own life. Even though she has always been an organized person, her organizational skills have greatly increased. Liz has also gained experience working in multiple environments and with a variety of different people, including professors, AUSD principals and teachers, and APU students. This position has also given her the ability to learn about other disciplines outside of her major in Psychology.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Meghan Gifford

Catherine Wade — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:09:06 +0000

Meghan is one of our newest Service-Learning Advocates (SLA) at the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research (CASLR). She comes from Tualatin, Oregon, near Portland, where she still has a little brother and sister finishing up high school. She is a sophomore, majoring in Liberal Studies and minoring in Spanish.

Before starting work at the CASLR, Meghan had already participated in two different Service-Learning courses, where she was able to see, first-hand, the academic reciprocity and opportunity for making a difference that S-L courses were able to provide. Now Meghan gets to see the behind the scenes operations, how everything goes into making S-L courses a success, and finds the planning especially rewarding.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Misha Goetz

Catherine Wade — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:18:37 +0000

Misha is one of our newest Service-Learning Advocates (SLA) at the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research (CASLR). She comes from Nashville, Tennessee, an only child, and loves it. She is a Junior, majoring in International Business and minoring in Biblical Studies. Misha is also a part of APU’s Liturgical Worship Team and loves worshiping her Lord and Savior through the venue of music.

Misha especially enjoys working at the CASLR because she can see an immediate impact in the lives of others through her work, which gives her a lot of self-efficacy and fulfillment. She also enjoys the opportunity of setting goals and accomplishing them and having a clear purpose to her assignments and tasks.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Hannah Danielson

Catherine Wade — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:37:56 +0000

Hannah is one of the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research’s (CASLR) returning Service-Learning Advocates (SLA). She grew up as a missionary kid, spending seven of her elementary school through high school years in Costa Rica, where she became fluent in Spanish. Hannah is a sophomore, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Biblical Studies.

Hannah loves working in the CASLR and has gained a great deal of professional experience being an SLA. She has learned how to work with a wide variety of different people and situations, honing her problem-solving skills. She has also learned the value of time management, as well as how to coordinate programming in order to provide benefits for all involved. She has also enjoyed working more with faculty. Hannah has realized through her work as an SLA that she desires to be service-oriented in her future career path. She values being involved in connecting with the community around her and making a difference. Hannah sees this as a way she can put her faith into action.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Bianca Portal

Catherine Wade — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:28:40 +0000

Bianca is one of the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research’s (CASLR) returning Service-Learning Advocates (SLA). She hails from Chino, CA; with a younger brother who is a current undergraduate student at UC San Diego. Bianca is a senior, majoring in Social Work, and has just been accepted into a prestigious masters program at San Diego State University.

This is Bianca’s first professional office position. She especially loves the combination of work and service that the CASLR provides, and enjoys the caring atmosphere of the permanent staff and her fellow SLAs. She feels that this office is a tight-knit community, a place where she is encouraged to grow in a holistic approach. Her journey of faith is incorporated in every course that she coordinates, where she sees the service aspect as faith in action and a great model of Christ.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Tory Freeth

Catherine Wade — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:58:55 +0000

Tory is one of the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research’s new Service-Learning Advocates. She hails from just down the street in West Covina; the youngest with two older brothers and one older sister who have all either graduated or are current students at Azusa Pacific University. Tory is a first year student, studying Journalism and Theatre. She is a professional actress as well as a dedicated student and SLA.

This is Tory’s first professional office position, and she is excited to learn more about this style of work. She has enjoyed engaging in the team aspect of the CASLR, learning to work with her “Buddy,” which is a returning SLA who is teamed up with her for the entire year in order to be her first line of assistance and support. Even in the best of circumstances, sometimes stressful situations occur. Tory is enthusiastic about learning from these moments, improving her time management skills, balancing her work at the CASLR with school and other life responsibilities, and how to say “no” when necessary. She is also seeing the value of learning from mistakes.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Marissa Hilmes

Catherine Wade — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:59:33 +0000

Marissa is one of the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research’s returning Service-Learning Advocates. She hails from Spokane, Washington; a middle child with two older sisters and 2 little brothers. Marissa is a Junior in APU’s Nursing program, where she is already involved in nursing duties, including home care and clinical visits, which keeps her quite busy on top of all her other commitments.

One of the aspects of Marissa’s job at the CASLR that she values highly, is being able to be a part of the connection between APU and our community. She loves being instrumental in helping to make these connections happen in ways that benefit both the APU students in their educational goals as well as the needs of the community, which advances reciprocal teaching and learning.

Service-Learning Advocate Spotlight: Charissa Mayeda

Catherine Wade — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:14:52 +0000

Charissa is a freshman APU student, studying Psychology, from Torrence, California. She has an older brother who graduated from Azusa Pacific University, who also worked as an SLA in the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research. Charissa feels blessed to be able to be a Service-Learning Advocate, following in her brother’s footsteps.

She has loved getting to know her fellow teammates, creating deep bonds of friendship and support. Charissa has also gained a great deal of professional development as an SLA. At home, she works for her county’s Parks and Recreation office, organizing and supervising children in the summer. Being an SLA has given her a different work experience in a more professional business setting, which has challenged her to grow professionally and is preparing her for future, desired positions. She has also been impacted by the freedom to express her spiritual beliefs in and outside the office. This is something she has not experienced in past positions. When her training started with a devotional by the assistant director of the CASLR, Charissa felt an immediate and positive difference.

Service-Learning Advocate Highlight: Nikki Frisz

Catherine Wade — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:41:39 +0000

Nikki is a returning SLA, and is a native Californian from Orange County. She is a Sophomore, studying Communications and Marketing. Heavily involved in many aspects of APU life, Nikki can always be counted on to exude life and excitement. Her bold and outgoing personality suits her well in her role as the undergraduate SLA in charge of the Fall 2011 semester’s C.H.A.M.P. program, which stands for College Headed and Mighty Proud.

Each year, the College Headed and Mighty Proud (C.H.A.M.P.) semester-long program introduces the idea of college to around 700 fourth graders from six local schools in the Azusa Unified School District through various activities. The C.H.A.M.P. program is a service-learning experience for APU students enrolled in EDLS 405 Diversity in the Classroom. This education course is designed to engage prospective teachers with issues such as race and culture in the educational setting. Each semester, APU partners with three elementary schools from the Azusa Unified School District. APU students are assigned to classrooms at the designated school sites to serve as college mentors to groups of five to seven fourth grade students. The APU students facilitate activities that correspond to the C.H.A.M.P. curriculum, covering such topics as college admission, financial aid, and career exploration.