Working together to serve
the common good
St. Norbert College
Sturzl Center for Community Service and Learning
Service Report 2013-14
2013-14 Service Report|1
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2013-14 Service Report|2
About the Sturzl Center
for Community Service and Learning
The Sturzl Center for Community Service and
Learning was named in 2012 with an endowed
gift in honor of Ed and Ann Sturzl. The donors
who made this possible wanted to honor the
Sturzls for their lifelong commitment to
service.
Ann and Ed Sturzl
Sturzl Center Staff
Nancy Mathias
Director, Sturzl Center
Aleena Choudhry ‘17
Service Program Apprentice
Jennifer Nissen
Assistant Director of
Community Service and Learning
Kelsie George ‘16
Research Fellow
Contact Us:
Todd Wehr Hall M36
St. Norbert College
100 Grant Street
De Pere, WI 54115-2099
920-403-3374
[email protected]
www.snc.edu/sturzlcenter
www.facebook/sturzlcenter
twitter.com/sturzlcenter
sturzlcenter.com
Susan Angoli
Coordinator of Community Partnerships
Deirdre Egan-Ryan
Director of Academic Service-Learning
Associate Professor of English
Tynisha Meidl
Interim Director of
Academic Service-Learning
Assistant Professor of Teacher Education
Allison Parra ‘16
TRIPS Coordinator
Laura Riley ‘14
Project & Marketing Coordinator
Maira Rodriguez ‘14
TRIPS Coordinator
Morgan Schell ‘15
Service Program Coordinator
Kalli Seglund ‘17
Research Fellow
Hannah Sternig ‘15
Service Program Coordinator
Marisa Strothenke ‘15
Project & Marketing Coordinator
Megan Waldoch ‘17
Research Fellow
2013-14 Service Report|3
From the Sturzl Center
The 2013-14 year was another step forward for St. Norbert College and the community as
service–learning initiatives continue to grow in scope and capacity. This year’s service report
reflects that growth by showcasing new service trips offered through the TRIPS Program, the
inaugural Dance Marathon, and the first cohort of the Faculty Fellows for Community
Engagement. Through these efforts we will continue to increase opportunities for students
to grow in their commitment to the common good throughout their lives.
We are also supporting our colleagues in the higher education profession by sharing our work
nationally through conferences and publications.

Nancy Mathias was selected for Diving Deep: Campus Compact’s Institute for Experienced
Civic and Community Engagement Practitioners in Iowa last July.

Tynisha Meidl, Assistant Professor of Teacher Education, presented her work at the 2014
Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement through Higher Education
in Alabama.

Jennifer Nissen and Tynisha Meidl co-wrote a chapter in the forthcoming book, ServiceLearning and Civic Engagement, edited by SNC’s own Associate Professor of Education,
Bola Delano-Oriaran. Reid Riggle, Associate Professor of Education, and Nancy Mathias
also co-wrote a chapter for this book scheduled for publication in 2015.
As we look ahead, we will continue to seek new opportunities to make connections and
explore new questions: How can we use social media to engage and inspire students to
serve? How do we use on-line training to better prepare our students for service?
How do we meet the increasing student demand for health related service opportunities?
How does service-learning improve student retention, enhance career exploration and
contribute to the college’s accreditation process?
Selected for the Carnegie Community
Engagement Classification
Honor Roll with Distinction Member
Stay tuned!
Wisconsin Campus Compact Member
2013-14 Service Report|4
Challenged by our mission and called by our
SNC Dance Marathon is a student organization
respond to
the needs
of
partnering with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to
fundraise for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Dance Marathon
strives to provide a connection between the SNC community and
the children and families served by the local hospital. This year,
Dance Marathon held their first ever event to celebrate the
year-round fundraising efforts. The event is 13.1 hours, and the
dancers (participants) stayed on their feet the entire time.
The Dance Marathon motto is “We dance for those who can’t.”
Throughout the event, local families shared their stories and interacted with our students.
As a result of this event, the participants got to see how a little hard work and a day of
inspiration can make such a difference in a child’s life.
“Hearing these kids' stories was so inspiring and I can honestly say this was
one of the best things I've ever experienced.”
FOR THE KIDS! - Lydia
the
local
Dance Marathon 2013 by the Numbers
community
13.1 hours of participants staying on their feet and
dancing
315 participants in fundraising
232 dancers at the event
$21,372.01 raised for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
9 local families at the event whose children were impacted by the cause
50 community members attended
11 local businesses sponsored the event
25 student organizations participated
“My legs and feet are throbbing...but it was so worth it. Here's
to more birthdays, more smiles, and more ’I do's’." - Courtney
2013-14 Service Report|5
Norbertine tradition to . . .
Joining in Global
Youth Service Day
the SNC Ballroom Dance Club hosted a
spring dance at the Aging and Disability
Resource Center. Through their service
they were able to promote dance and
establish connections in the community,
which is a major component of their
mission.
fulfill
our
Maureen Koets, President of the Ballroom Dance Club, who participated in this
event, shared this reflection:
“Senior citizens are like college students, still very bright and active, just with more
stories and wisdom. I personally talked to three women throughout the event . . .One
was 97 years old and dancing around with her walker and singing songs with us from
the 1930s. And I talked to two other women, one from Nigeria and the other from
Germany. I found out she was from Germany after she started waltzing and singing
(the English version of) a song she couldn't remember the name of. I recognized the
tune as a polka song my grandpa used to sing to me, so I instinctively started singing
along in German.
They both talked about immigrating to the U.S. and about how fearful they were
when they came, and how lonely they felt, and even still feel now. They said that they
were grateful for community events like the one that we hosted because it gives them
a chance to leave their homes and meet new people. Not only that, but they said that
they were happy that the event had dancing. Many of them said that it has been
years since they last danced. Some didn't know that they were still physically capable
of it. So we shared information about dancing opportunities in the area. I wore a
handmade gown to the event. Many people commented on it, so we talked about
sewing and other common interests.
The woman from Germany commented that she did not have many opportunities to
speak German anymore, and at times worried that she was forgetting how to. Before
long, she and I had at least a 45-minute long conversation in German. It was fabulous. I ended up hearing a lot of her life story. She talked about the War, and leaving
for the U.S. 50 years ago, and had very interesting opinions on current happenings in
Europe. She made music and reading suggestions (German ones, of course). As I plan
on studying abroad to Germany next year, she offered a lot of advice on that, too.
When I woke up this morning, I didn't expect to speak German today... let alone meet
so many interesting people. But I did. And I am so happy that I did. It was such a phenomenal experience.”
2013-14 Service Report|6
vocation
by
embodying
Christ’s
example of
loving
service
Challenged by our mission and called by our
TRIPS (Turning Responsibility into Pow-
recognize
the
sacred
dignity of
all
persons
erful Service) is an alternative break service
program that gives students the opportunity
to put into action their values, convictions,
and religious beliefs through service. Students participate in a week of personal, intellectual, social and spiritual growth
through life changing service and solidarity
with some of the world's most vulnerable
people. This year the TRIPS Program focused
on three Catholic Social Teaching Themes:
Human Dignity, Solidarity and Option for
the Poor.
15 Service Trips
137 Participants & Trip Leaders
5,280 Direct Service Hours
40 Community Partners
The TRIPS Program partnered with the Education department to create an Urban Education-Milwaukee trip
which was initiated by SNC alumnae Teresa (Amman)
Reilly ‘09. Students spent the week working side-by-side
with teachers who graduated from SNC. Thomas Kunkel,
President of St. Norbert College, visited St. Anthony
School students during the winter trip. Another group
traveled from SNC to St. Anthony in March. In April, a
group of 120 fifth graders from St. Anthony School came
to campus. For many of the students, this visit was the
first time they have ever been on a college campus.
“My biggest takeaway from this experience was witnessing the genuine desire and
drive the students have to attend college and live a successful life.”
- Urban Education Trip Participant
In several trip destinations, the participants made connections
with SNC alumni. Anthony Shimek ‘08 has found his way to
New York City in a position with the Gay Men’s Health Crisis
(GMHC), an organization focused on ending the AIDS epidemic
and uplifting the lives of all who are affected. Through this
new relationship, a group of students visited this organization
on the HIV/AIDS trip. The students assisted in preparation for
the largest HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the world while working
with those affected by the epidemic.
2013-14 Service Report|7
Catholic Intellectual tradition to . . .
The Children’s Medical trip had the opportunity this year to
partner with University of Iowa Children’s Hospital and work
with their Child Life Specialists. The staff at University of Iowa
Children’s Hospital shared with our students how to respect
the dignity of these children; instead of seeing them as sick
kids, they see them as “Sam” and “Krystal”. One student
reflected on their experience, “Once I got past the initial
shock of seeing children with IVs and casts, there was no
weird smell of a hospital, the individuals weren’t sullen or serious in the hospital, there
were bright colors, there was laughter, there were games, there was joy and hope.”
utilize
knowledge
“The students exceeded all expectations. They performed better than regular
volunteers and paid student workers. Please come back!”
in working
- Children’s Medical Trip Community Partner
toward a
For over 25 years, the TRIPS Program has worked
with the Good News Project, a non-profit organization in Wausau, WI that works with the people of
the West Indies. In the Fall 2013 semester, the
founders, Dr. Charles and Peggy MacCarthy, were
honored with SNC’s Ambassador of Peace Award.
In January, SNC students traveled with individuals
from Northeast Wisconsin to participate in the
International Poverty trip. They visited elderly
residents, interacted with children, and did manual
labor. Because of the long standing partnership
with the TRIPS Program, the St. Norbert Gap Experience established a connection with this organization. During the Fall of 2014, a group of
first year students will participate in an outdoor education experience, several weeks of domestic service and spend six weeks with the Good News Project in St. Lucia.
“Our whole group lived out solidarity...because we treated ALL of God’s
children with dignity and love. Every person has inherent dignity and
self-worth, it is our duty as human beings to care for all.”
- Trip Participant
2013-14 Service Report|8
Gospel
vision
of
justice
Challenged by our mission and called by our
Academic Service-Learning
Faculty Development
Faculty Fellows for Community Engagement
collaborate
with
This exciting new initiative led by Deirdre Egan-Ryan and Tynisha Meidl hosted six
dedicated and enterprising faculty. With monthly readings and discussions, each
Fellow developed or revised a course or project that engages students in the
community. This project will enhance student learning and strengthen campus–
community partnerships. Eight faculty were selected for the 2014-15 cohort!
others
to
gain
knowledge,
2013-14 Faculty Fellows
solve
Front Row: Robert Osgood, Ravi Agarwal, Hyang Sook Kim
Back Row: John Day, Brad Ellis, Jamie O’Brien
problems
and
With support from the Collaborative for Undergraduate Research, the Office of Diversity Affairs and the Social Sciences
Research Forum, Visiting Scholar, Beth Tarasawa provided 31
faculty with the opportunity to explore academic servicelearning as a pedagogical endeavor and field of scholarship.
Presentations included:
seek
truth
Academic
Service Learning
Visiting Scholar
Beth Tarasawa
Connecting the Classroom with Communities:
Promoting Civic Engagement Through Learning and Service
Social Sciences Research Forum
Engaging Scholarship:
Integrating Service, Teaching and Research
2013-14 Service Report|9
Liberal Arts tradition to . . .
This year faculty were provided with the
opportunity to apply for a Community Engagement (CENG) course designation. This designation allows students to easily identify and
enroll in courses with a community engagement component. In the spring semester, Howard Ebert offered two sections of the Religious
Studies course, Providence, Suffering and Freedom. One section was designed to include a
community engagement component and received the CENG designation. The students who
registered for this section of the course served with community partners including St. John
the Evangelist Homeless Shelter, Hospice Advantage, Wellspring, Brown County Jail Ministries and Rennes Health and Rehab Center. Through this academic service-learning course
the students were able to connect their service in the community to their learning in the
classroom.
“I saw suffering first hand and was able to play a role in healing.
I learned more about myself through the life of others.” - SNC Student
share
our
intellect
and
abilities
A truly liberal education fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience
and allows students to explore the connections among formal learning,
service to the community and citizenship.
St. Norbert College student Kelsie George
was named a 2014 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact.
Campus Compact is a national coalition of almost 1,200 college and
university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. Kelsie was nominated by St. Norbert College President Thomas Kunkel for her outstanding leadership on
campus. She is majoring in International Studies and Spanish and
minoring in Business Administration and Peace and Justice Studies.
Kelsie served as a research fellow with the Sturzl Center for
Community Service and Learning and was also the vice president of
St. Norbert's chapter of Oxfam America, a student organization focused on solving hunger, poverty and social injustice. Through the college's TRIPS Program, she served on a trip last year and
led a service trip this past spring. Last summer Kelsie was selected to be a national representative for the OXFAM America Change program in Boston and will return as a Change Facilitator
this summer before heading to study abroad in Ecuador this fall.
2013-14 Service Report|10
to
create
a
compassionate
world
community
Docere Verbo et Exemplo —
To teach by word and example
The
Thank you to the corporate
partners who provided
financial support for the
Youth to Youth service
programs including the
Village Project, Michels Hall
Service Program, SERV,
Connections and Kids to
Campus.
Youth to Youth service programs continue to be a highlight of SNC
service. With strong campus and community leaders, our five major programs (Michels
Hall Service Program, Village Project, SERV, Connections, and Kids to Campus) continue to
grow. This year’s projects increased the hours of service to children, hosted more children
on campus and expanded youth service opportunities by creating service theme houses.
“Throughout my childhood I always
had an adult helping me along the
way, especially through athletics.
Volunteering at the Boys and Girls
Club is a great opportunity now that
I’m in a position to give back.”
- Mark Villers
The residents of the theme house serving at
the Boys and Girls Club coordinated a campus visit for youth from the Club.
Youth Service Programs
260 SNC students serving
1,257 youth served
8,394 hours tutoring & mentoring
The Michels
Hall Service Program was
recognized by the Association for Student Affairs at
Catholic Colleges and Universities with the Mission
Integration Award in the Residence Life category.
The program was selected for its originality, positive impact on student learning, quality
assessment, demonstration of at least one of ASACCU’s Principles of Good Practice, and a
firm integration of Catholic identity and institutional mission. This program allows students
to live, learn and serve in community.
2013-14 Service Report|11
Community Partnerships
We value our community partnerships which include more than 45 local
agencies. These partners provide opportunities for our students to join them in their work to
serve the common good.
Aging & Disability Resource Center
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Aldo Leopold Community School*
Heritage Hill State Historical Park
American Cancer Society
Heartland Hospice
ASPIRO
Hospice Advantage
Baird Creek Preservation Foundation
House of Hope
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary
Howe Community Resource Center*
Big Brothers Big Sisters of NE Wisconsin*
Izaak Walton League - Brown County Chapter
Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay*
Literacy Green Bay
Brown County Central Library
Lutheran Social Services—Wellspring
Brown County Extension
Marion House
Brown County Izaak Walton League
National Railroad Museum
Brown County Jail Ministries
Nicolet Highlands Senior Apartments
Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
Paul's Pantry
Cerebral Palsy, Inc.
Rennes Health and Rehab
Children’s Museum of Green Bay
St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter
De Pere Christian Outreach Food Pantry
St. Vincent de Paul Society *
De Pere Community Neighbors
The Salvation Army of Brown County*
De Pere Schools
Seymour Park Community Garden
Encompass Early Education and Care
Tsyunhehkwa Oneida Farm
Exceptional Equestrians
The Volunteer Center of Brown County
Freedom House Ministries*
Wildcat Community Garden
Golden House
The Y (Greater Green Bay YMCA)*
Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity
YWCA*
Green Bay Area Public Schools*
Green Bay Botanical Garden
*Denotes Youth to Youth Program Partner
2013-14 Service Report|12
The Norbertine Volunteer
Community offers postcollege age young adults the
opportunity to live in intentional community while serving with and on behalf of the
poor and vulnerable in Green
Bay.
This report was published by:
St. Norbert College’s Sturzl Center for Community Service and Learning
St. Norbert College
100 Grant Street
De Pere, WI 54115-2099
920-403-3374
[email protected]
www.snc.edu/sturzlcenter
www.facebook.com/sturzlcenter
twitter.com/sturzlcenter
sturzlcenter.com
2013-14 Service Report|13