Service-Learning Highlights Fall 2022 Created by Becca Krymowski, Student Service-Learning Intern, and edited by Meredith Doyle, Director of Service-Learning

In the Prologue to his Rule, St. Benedict reminds us that "the Lord waits for us daily to translate into action, as we should, his holy teachings." The Benedictine College Center for Service-Learning helps students live out Christ's teachings as part of their education in this community of faith and scholarship. We invite you to take a look at some of the ways students translated the Gospel into action through their studies in Fall 2022. Pictured above: Students in Dr. Ashley Haase's Science and Health Methods and Media course (EDUC-3303) lead activities during a Homeschool Science Day event on campus.

Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities | EDUC 2222 |

Taught by Dr. Kelly Cogan

Dr. Kelly Cogan’s Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities (PIE) intends to expose students to humans with disabilities and to create community and inclusion. This was Cogan’s first time teaching PIE, but she has used service-learning in the past for other classes and wanted to incorporate it in this one because having authentic experience with individuals with disabilities deepens her students' level of understanding and acceptance which, in turn, spreads kindness and love. At the time of the interview, they had not yet done their service-learning portion, but they were in the process of putting together a mini "Raven Day" for local students on an Individualized Education Program (also called an IEP) to come to the Benedictine campus to learn about support and opportunities beyond high school. With emotional fervor, Cogan expressed how deeply she believes in the practice of service-learning because she sees how powerful it is through her students and the people she has met. They learn more from it than they do from the classroom.

“It’s so cool getting to see them apply the knowledge they’re learning." -Dr. Cogan

Social Problems | SOCI 2250 |

Taught by Prof. Karen Wood

Prof. Karen Wood does not want her students in Social Problems, a course which, as the name implies, is all about examining social problems, to walk away thinking there is no hope. She likes to use service-learning to allow students to work outside of their comfort zones; to interact with people from different backgrounds and different world views; to “see the world from another perspective”; and to be a small part of the solution. Wood starts the semester by taking the class on a field trip to Kansas City's A Simple House (ASH), a Catholic inner-city ministry, to learn about Catholic social teaching. This was the third time Wood has kicked off the course with this field trip; she sees Catholic social teachings and Catholic principles as the heart of ASH and wants to give her students a view of what a Catholic response to social problems might look like. During the field trip, students break into groups and accompany ASH missionaries on visits to their ministry friends who live on the street or in low-income housing. Though the students may only have a few short interactions with individuals living in poverty during the field trip, they are also able to catch a glimpse of the deep and ongoing relationship that ASH missionaries have with their ministry friends. Wood expressed how important this kind of experience and example is, saying, “There is a core element of solidarity; we all have struggles, even people who are privileged, and we can lean on each other; we are all made in His image and likeness and that can break barriers. Which is important because as a culture right now we are creating barriers rather than removing them.”

Throughout the rest of the semester, the students continue learning about solidarity and community firsthand through recurring service visits to either either Atchison Elementary School or the Boys and Girls Club.

“Connections to people is what will heal and bring change.” -Prof. Wood