What follows is an introduction to the Service-Learning Student Citizen Scholars Program as it has begun in the Fall of 2002. You can also click here to scroll beyond the introduction to meet our first group of scholars, or you can read up on the program and see our scholars below. This is just the beginning, and we hope that outstanding service-learning students will continue assisting in the stewardship of the Service-Learning Program by participating in the Student Citizen Scholars Program.

Mission

The Service-Learning Student Citizen Scholars Program is dedicated to providing high quality experiential leadership opportunities to service-learning students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Service-Learning Program and campus-community outreach.

Purpose

In collaboration with faculty, students, staff, community partners, and alumni the Program will provide resources, workshops and guidance to develop a cadre of students who:

• Advocate for changes in campus policies to encourage long-term participation in service-learning.
• Participate in events that acknowledge and celebrate service-learners’ contributions to the University and the larger community;
• Create greater awareness among the campus community about the rewards of service-learning;
• Serve as mentors/role models for new service-learners;
  Serve as liaisons among students, faculty, community partners and the Service-Learning Program staff;
• Participate on service-learning task forces, as requested;
• Organize focus groups of students to identify ways to improve the Service-Learning Program, and respond to community service priorities.

In order to facilitate such a process, a diverse range of responsibilities will be invested in the Citizen Scholars, while giving them the opportunity to develop critical and creative approaches to meeting these responsibilities. Their responsibilities will include:

Group Reflection

Citizen Scholars will be encouraged to schedule at least two reflection/focus group meetings with Service-Learning staff, per semester. These meetings will serve as an opportunity for project updates, reflection, new directions, etc. Reflection will revolve around such social issues as poverty, literacy, the digital divide, aging in society, civil rights, and service-learning. This will serve as a guide for reflection to the extent that it is consistent with the development of the program as the Citizen Scholars direct it.

Mentorship

Citizen scholars will be asked to be available, via email, as mentors for current S-L students. They will also be invited to join Service-Learning staff as they visit classrooms and community sites as often as they desire.

Active participation in Service-Learning Summit

Citizen Scholars will be asked to be part of a panel discussion before an audience of students, community partners, and faculty from the various service-learning courses and issue areas. The panel will be made up of Citizen Scholars, service-learning students, service-learning faculty and community partners. The summit will be moderated by a Service-Learning staff member, and focus on the importance of gaining increased awareness of important social issues through service-learning, the extent to which service-learners, faculty, and partners feel they can make a difference through service-learning, and the degree to which service-learning has enhanced their academic progress.

Service-Learning ‘Voices’

In order to increase the degree of student leadership in service-learning, Citizen Scholars will be asked to submit journal entries to be posted on the service-learning website.

Active participation in a major campus outreach event as
representatives of S-L

The Citizen Scholars will be invited to play an active role in a major campus outreach event, such as the Engaged Campus Conference, where they will:

• Advocate for changes in campus policies to encourage long-term participation in service-learning;
• Participate in events that acknowledge and celebrate service-learners’ contributions to the University and the larger community;
• Create greater awareness among the campus community about the rewards of service-learning.

Rewards of the Program

• A $500 scholarship
• Student Development Leadership Transcript
  Billed as ‘A Comprehensive Record of Academic and Non-Academic Experiential Learning’, the transcript is slated to be piloted on a small group of students, including Citizen Scholars, in fall 2002.
• Membership in the ‘Learning in Deed’ National Service-Learning Partnership

Conclusion

Student leadership experiences (e.g., peer advising) have been linked to major gains in self-awareness, social competence, self-esteem and autonomy. Research also suggests that student-faculty interaction beyond the classroom is positively correlated with personal growth in the areas of leadership, social activism, intellectual self-esteem, and academic self-concept as well as social self-concept. We value these findings, and through the Service-Learning Citizen Scholars Program we can help prepare students to be informed, educated leaders in society who demonstrate courage and integrity, and who have an honest commitment to addressing community problems and broader social issues. Students will be challenged to discover their potential as leaders on campus and in society at large. An ability to work in groups, an awareness of global issues and a sense of interconnectedness are all essential components in the citizen scholars that we hope to prepare today.

Citizen Scholars—2004-2005

Andrea Vecchione is a fourth year student here at Montclair State University where she studies English Education with a Concentration in Creative Writing. During her Service-Learning, Andrea worked closely with STARS children and witnessed The Achievement Gap first hand. At this time, Andrea Vecchione and fellow classmate, Jordan Fullam began brainstorming a new organization titled Students for Equality in Education/Students Leaders in Education. As President of this new club, Andrea Vecchione plans on promoting research and awareness of the Achievement Gap. After graduating from MSU in May 2005, Andrea Vecchione plans on making a difference in the school systems.

Jordan P. Fullam
Major: English Education
Minors: Anthropology, Linguistics

Jordan Fullam transferred to Montclair State University as a business student in 2001, but changed his major to English after developing an interest in the field of education. As a newly-admit to the Teacher Education Program, he has become involved with the Service-Learning Program and the Urban Teaching Academy, and exhibits a continued interest in community-based research which is well aligned with CCBL’s mission to foster an engaged campus. Jordan is also the Vice President and a founding member of Students for Equality in Education/Student Leaders in Education (SEED/SLED) – a student organization citing “scholarship infused with the spirit of activism” as its guiding principle. Currently Jordan is working as a camp counselor, a volunteer counselor at the M.S.U. Drop-In Center, and a guitar instructor. His research interests include linguistic anthropology of education and critical pedagogy

To Learn More About SEED Click Here

To Read the Symposium Article Click Here

Citizen Scholars—2002-2003

Hello. My name is Jessica Smith. I am a senior at Montclair State University with a major in Early and Middle Childhood Education. I first became involved in MSU’s service learning program while taking Dr. Mary Beth Henry’s Field Experience in Family and Child Services course. As a student in this class I completed a minimum of 30 hours of tutoring elementary school students in Montclair’s after school tutorial program. I really enjoyed being a part of this service learning class. In this class, I learned by stepping out into the community and being an active citizen. I learned by helping children learn. This class was not only educational for me but also a self rewarding experience. Because of my great interest in the service learning program, I am currently participating in an Independent Study with Dr. Mary Beth Henry on research in service learning. I have recently been chosen as one of four Service-Learning Citizen scholars here at Montclair State University. I am honored to have been selected. As a citizen scholar, I plan to participate in numerous service learning projects and do my best to get others on campus involved in the service learning program.

Debbie Paskill
Elementary Education Major
Class 2004

I am an unconventional student at Montclair State University. I have returned to school to get my degree in education after raising two sons who are now 25 and 22. While raising my children I was involved in many school-related, community, and religious activities. These were a source of knowledge, fun, and fulfillment. Before coming to Montclair State I lived in Silver Spring, Maryland where I attended Montgomery College. Here, I was awarded a history internship where I worked at a local museum creating a user friendly children's guide to the museum. At Montclair State Debbie became involved in service-learning via a course with Dr. Mary Beth Henry; Field Experiences in Family and Child Services. Within this program, Debbie tutored in the Montclair Public Schools STARS program. I am also involved with Project Wet, the environmental education side of Water Watch. We offer educational and environmental programs to the schools in the area. Currently, I am participating in "Conversations on Race" an initiative sponsored by the Montclair Civil Rights Commission. I am hopeful this program will give me some insight on helping to organize a similar program here on campus. This semester I was asked to become a Citizen Scholar and readily accepted the opportunity to engage and aid fellow students with their service-learning experiences.

Cara Tutalo
Junior, Class of 2004
English Education

Hello! My name is Cara Tutalo and I am from Forked River, NJ. I went through Lacey Township school district from kindergarten to twelfth grade and I’m now an English Education major here at Montclair State University. As part of the Citizen Scholars Program, I hope to learn more about people in general, cultures in specific, the community of Montclair, and how service-learning can help shape the community and the students of Montclair.
As a junior, I am taking part in my third service-learning course. Last semester, I tutored in an elementary school in Montclair. Not only did this experience teach me valuable life-long lessons – such as patience, understanding, and awareness of the environment that surrounds you – but it also made me anxious to take another service-learning course. I did not want my influence on students to stop there. These courses allow you to interact with people on a personal level and to learn more about the community. I am currently in a service-learning course that allows me to help high school students with their writing skills – and as an English Education major, I am benefiting from these lessons just as much as my tutees.
You can learn so much from other people, which is why I feel that service-learning courses are extremely beneficial to all that take them.
I will do my best, as a Citizen Scholar, to answer any questions anyone may have about the program. I hope that everyone takes advantage of these service-learning courses, and does their part in giving back to the amazing town of Montclair.