Student Service Learning
"Ready for the World," the first annual Capstone Event for Student Service Learning program participants, was held Thursday, April 22 at Pigeon Creek County Park. Students from Black River, Coopersville, and Grand Haven high schools converged on the park, ready to be inspired ... and to give back. First they heard a presentation entitled "Stop Waiting for the World to Change," given by John Mauro, GHHS teacher, InterAct Club Adviser, and lifelong global volunteer. Then they learned how to identify garlic mustard weed, an invasive species. They donned their LIVE UNITED gloves (silkscreening donated by Michigan Rag--thank you Randy Smith!) and pulled together to pull tons of weeds from the park on a blue sky, sunshiney day. After working together, they gathered for a drawing for a laptop and case donated by C.C.S. Technologies -- and the lucky winner was GHHS senior Grace Sterenberg! For more photos of a great day and event, check out the Greater Ottawa County United Way page on Facebook.
Fulfilling the “Desire to Make a Difference”
To connect civic-minded students with opportunities to become engaged in their communities, in 2007 we began a county-wide rollout of our Student Service Learning program. Several school systems are now partnering with us in this comprehensive effort, which requires students to perform 25-400 hours of service during their four years of high school, with guidance and mentoring from their schools and oversight by United Way. We are working toward 100 percent participation in the coming years.
SSL engages students at the end of their eighth grade year, and provides them with support, mentoring, coaching, and the tools they need to locate volunteer opportunities, log their experiences, participate in job partnering opportunities in the community. Then we help them to bring all that experience to a meaningful conclusion--with a completed portfolio and essay in their senior year.
Students who successfully complete 400 service hours will receive the Governor’s Student Service Award of Excellence and the Michigan Volunteer Center Medallion. For 100 hours completed students will receive an award from Greater Ottawa County United Way. But they gain so much more. As Ellyse Birch, a June 2008 SSL graduate so eloquently expressed,
“Through service, I have been blessed with a deep and abiding connection to my community, and the desire to make a difference through life-long volunteerism.”
Click here for Student Service Learning sign up/consent form
Click here to download/print SSL Volunteer Hour Log
Send forms to: Shannon Morton PO Box 1349 Holland, MI 49422 or fax to: 616-396-5140
Student Service Learning Video
This video was made possible through a generous gift of professional video production services from Professor Barbara Roos, Director of Film and Video at Grand Valley State University. Her advanced film and video students produced a dynamic, 9-minute video that has generated enthusiastic enrollments in the SSL program. Enjoy it here.
Student Service Learning Television Interview
Students Ellyse Birch and Patrick Werksma are interviewed about their Student Service Learning experiences in high school. 30 minutes, produced by Mac Media, June 2008.
