April 14, 2010
In a strong sign of federal support for St. John’s focus on
education and service, the University has won a $90,000 “Learn
and Serve America” grant to create a summer program engaging
needy middle-school children in volunteer activities that improve
the environment.
The
program’s focus on service and mentoring also will prepare students
to excel in high school and college.
Richard Sinatra, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Dean of
Academic Affairs in The
School of Education, created the proposal through St. John’s Vincentian
Institute for Social Action (VISA). He also chairs VISA’s
Faculty Research Consortium. The School of Education works closely
with VISA on the After-School All-Stars, the CampUs Program and
other efforts serving needy children.
Dr. Sinatra has asked
Michael Donhost, Ed.D., Assistant Professor in The School of
Education, to serve as Co-Project Director of the grant. Dr.
Donhost is a former middle-school principal and social studies
teacher.
This year’s highly competitive grants were awarded to only “one out
of every ten applications we received,” said Elson Nash, Acting
Director of “Learn and Serve America,” part of the federal Corporation for National and
Community Service. Through the program, 180 Queens public
school students will spend July and August in 100 hours of
environmentally focused service at St. John’s Queens campus and
school-based sites.
The
students, from six middle schools serving needy areas, will have
completed the eighth grade by June 2010. The program also will
train science teachers and St. John’s students chosen to guide the
children. Training will be provided by the city’s Department of
Education, St. John’s conservation
staff, Student Life
and professors from ecology and
biology.
St. John’s created VISA to more visibly embed its Catholic, Vincentian
mission into its students’ educational experience. VISA unites new
and ongoing programs that empower students and professors to combat
global poverty and injustice through teaching, research and
service.