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COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING

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Commonwealth Essays in Community Service Learning

For the first time in 2006, the Office of Community Service Learning sponsored the university-wide writing contest, Commonwealth Essays in Community Service Learning.  These essays elicit undergraduate and graduate students' thoughtful reflections on how their work in community service learning has led them to build new skills, develop crucial reciprocal relationships, increase knowledge and effect social change.  The essays describe students' community service and explain how that service has been of value to others as well as to the students themselves.  Essays are recognized for aptly demonstrating the ways in which a particular community service experience has led to important civic, personal and academic learning.

Click on these links to read the full essay text.

2009 Commonwealth Essay Award winners

"Reflections on Community Service"
by Jerome Rogich

2008 Commonwealth Essay Award winners

"Things I Have Taken from my Service with Children"
by Stefanie Millette

"A Journey Through Service Learning"
by Elizabeth Phillips

Untitled Essay
by Christopher Souchy

OCSL is a program of Commonwealth College