2008-2009 Awards for Outstanding Community Service and Engagement

The UMass Office of Community Service Learning at Commonwealth College calls for nominations for the 2009 Awards for Outstanding Community Service and Engagement.

These awards were established to recognize individuals' positive contributions to communities outside of the university and to appreciate collaborative efforts to meet community needs while advancing student learning. With these awards, UMass students, faculty and staff are recognized for their meaningful involvement with communities on and off campus, whether it occurs within the context of the curriculum, community-based research, a student organization, dorm life or active citizenship. Staff at community-based organizations are also honored for effectively engaging UMass faculty, staff and students in community efforts.

Award recipients demonstrate exemplary efforts in support of OCSL's mission and use their time, innovative thinking, energy and resources to make positive contributions either on or off campus during the 2008-2009 academic year.

The Office of Community Service Learning will present four types of awards in 2009:

SERVICE-LEARNING AWARDS

This award recognizes community engagement that is directly and intentionally connected to a course and that integrates learning in the classroom with learning in the community.

for Individuals

This award honors up to five individual UMass Amherst undergraduate or graduate students, faculty or staff for either the breadth or depth of their community involvement or service experience(s) through reflection and community service learning.

for Teams

This award honors up to three small teams of up to five UMass Amherst undergraduate or graduate students, faculty or staff for either the breadth or depth of their community involvement or service experience(s) through community service learning.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARDS

This award recognizes students whose service experiences fit into their overall learning goals, but are not part of a course.

for Individuals

This award honors up to five individual UMass Amherst undergraduate or graduate students who have made service an integral part of their UMass experience, as demonstrated by significant community engagement through direct service, activism, advocacy, public policy or work to create structural change.

for Teams

This award honors up to three small teams of up to five UMass Amherst students (undergraduate or graduate) who have made service an integral part of their UMass experience, as demonstrated by significant community engage-ment through direct service, activism, advocacy, public policy or work to create structural change.

COMMUNITY-BASED COLLEAGUE AWARDS

This award recognizes up to three staff members at community-based organizations who have made an outstanding commitment to working with and supporting UMass students, faculty and staff in community engagement.

Please note that nominations for this award must originate from UMass faculty, staff or students.

COMMONWEALTH ESSAY IN COMMUNITY SERVICE

This award recognizes up to three UMass Amherst undergraduate or graduate students with up to $250 for essays that aptly describe their community service experience, its impact and how the service has led to important academic, personal and civic learning.

Click here to read past years' winning essays.

TO APPLY/NOMINATE

To submit a nomination for someone else or to apply for an award yourself, please complete the appropriate Nomination/Application form and submit all supplemental information by the semester deadline.

Fall 2008 submissions must be received by 5pm on Friday, January 9, 2009.

Spring 2009 submissions are due by 5pm on Monday, March 30, 2009.

CONTACT

For more information, please contact Sarah Martineau at (413) 545-2015 or cslevents@comcol.umass.edu.