On September 8, 2021, Benedictine College officially launched Transforming Culture in America, the new strategic plan that will guide the College into the next chapter of its history. One of the key ways that Benedictine will carry out this important endeavor is through service-learning courses, which extend our mission of community, faith, and scholarship beyond campus, into the rest of the world. Though service-learning is already a well-established tradition at Benedictine, the Transforming Culture in America plan provides new horizons, energy, and resources for this work. We look forward to sharing these exciting developments with you! For now, please enjoy this snapshot of the many service-learning courses from the Fall 2021 semester. May you and yours have a wonderful 2022!
Design for Social Good (ART 4311)
Taught by Professor Jay Wallace
Offered for the first time this semester, Design for Social Good is part of the capstone sequence for the new Graphic Design major at Benedictine. A key theme in the course is how students can use their talents and skills to promote social good. The class partnered with Atchison Senior Village, a local nursing facility that wanted help updating its branding and marketing materials.
Student Spotlight
Peter Madrid
- Year: Senior
- Major: Graphic Design
- Hometown: Westfield, Ind.
The students in the course divided the project into smaller tasks. Peter took photos at Senior Village and also developed the logo's final concept.
"I think the project taught me teamwork skills and compromise; we've got seven different personalities here with seven different ideas... So coming to compromises and figuring out the best choices and designs... was a growth moment for me as a designer." -Peter
Service Experience In Psychology (PSYC 4850)
Taught by Dr. Amy Posey
Each week, senior Psychology majors in this course spend three or more hours supporting programming at a designated non-profit. These experiences, combined with a weekly class dialogue, prepare students for the professional world beyond Benedictine and help them better understand the personal and systemic challenges that make it more difficult for their clients to thrive.
In this class, students partnered with:
Student Spotlight
Julianna Luxem
- Year: Senior
- Major: Psychology
- Hometown: Plymouth, Minn.
Julianna served at The Guidance Center's Early Childhood program. She created lesson plans, then helped children develop skills that are needed before they enroll in school. This gave her a lot of one-on-one time with the kids and reinforced her hopes to pursue graduate studies in children's therapy and counseling.
"It's such a unique way to get some experience under your belt." - Julianna
Mass Communications Senior Seminar (MCOM 4090)
Taught by Dr. Kevin Page
Student teams worked with a community partner to identify goals and communication strategies for that agency. The students then developed professional content for use by the non-profit.
In this class, students partnered with:
Student Spotlight
Aubree Galle
- Year: Senior
- Majors: Graphic Design, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Theology
- Hometown: Spokane, Wash.
Aubree's team created a poster, brochure, and flyer for the Lantern Volunteers Program, a long term, residential volunteer opportunity at Mount St. Scholastica Monastery.
"It helps you connect with the community; it gives purpose to what you're doing." -Aubree
Foundations of Nursing Practice: Clinical Laboratory (NURS 3210)
Taught by Mrs. Lindsey Vance
For over a decade, Foundations of Nursing Practice Clinical Lab - also known as "Nursing Skills Lab" - has included a service-learning component so that students can demonstrate their learning in action
This year, Ravens taught kindergarteners at Atchison Elementary School skills related to bodily hygiene and health. Topics included hand washing, the effects of screen time, first aid, and more. Mrs. Vance, instructor for the course, explained that it was a way for the students to build upon foundational skills of nursing, while meeting the kids at their developmental level, as they would in future nursing practice.
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Student Spotlight
Kaitlynn Miller
- Year: Junior
- Major: Nursing
- Hometown: Hampshire, Ill
Kaitlynn's group spoke to the kindergarteners about screen time, including what it is, what happens if you have too much, and some healthier alternatives.
"I think service-learning is important because it can be difficult to learn certain things out of a textbook without any real-world experience. In a textbook, you learn almost a scripted version of what to do and only really learn about a few outcomes, when out in the world there are a bunch of variables that can affect what goes on." -Kaitlynn