Community Collaboration Celebration Recognizes Local Partners
Pacific University held its annual Community Collaboration Celebration on April 26 to recognize the numerous community service efforts of students, faculty, staff and local partners over the past year.
“This event recognizes, acknowledges and appreciates how much work goes into community collaboration,” CCE director Stephanie Stokamer said. “We recognize the amazing connections made through collaborations with community partners.”
John Miller, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, expressed appreciation to the those representing local organizations who have partnered the university.
“You really are critical partners in the work that we do here at Pacific,” he said. “It’s something that we talk about to students when they come to Pacific, and we couldn’t provide them with the educational experience they want to have without you.”
Nominees for six annual service awards, including two new honors, were recognized.
Student Impact Award nominees included seniors Tyler Gilmore, Kevin Alfaro-Martinez and Jhoevhana Sabado, sophomores Sierra Barnes, Abby Lian and Armando Valderrama, and award winner, senior McKenzie Brock.
Brock, who recently graduated with a bachelor of social work degree, completed her degree practicum at HomePlate Youth Services, an organization that provides resources to Washington County. Additionally, she was a “Big Buddy" for Sparks of Hope, an organization that provides safe camp environments for children who have been sexually abused. She also managed publicity efforts for the Theatre in the Grove on a volunteer basis. Brock will pursue a master’s degree at the University of Denver.
Nominees for the Engaged Faculty Award were also recognized and include Daniel Eisen (Sociology-Anthropology), Alyson Burns-Glover (Psychology), Dawn Salgado (Psychology), Darlene Pagan (English) and 2016 honoree Jessica Ritter (Social Work).
Ritter was selected for her ability to seek out opportunities for students to immerse themselves within their communities. She encourages students to find their passion and use it in pursuit of social justice for disadvantaged populations. Ritter currently serves on the Children First of Oregon board of directors.
Recent alumnae Fallon Harris and Celeste Goulding were nominated for a new honor, the Engaged Alumni Award.
Goulding is the inaugural recipient after working in the CCE through the AmeriCorps program. She worked on several projects involving education and awareness of the homeless population in Forest Grove. She also facilited self-compassion workshops at a social justice retreat, with other CCE staff, in classes and for a university sorority chapter.
Another new honor in 2016, the Site Supervisor Award, recognizes the important role community partner organization supervisors play in providing meaningful opportunities for Pacific students. Nominees are Carol Anderson (Washington County Public Health) and award winner Rachel Parker of the Inukai Boys and Girls Club.
The Engaged Staff Award nominees are B Street Farm site coordinator Ron Calkins and Tiffany Fieken, interim field director and practicum coordinator. Fieken received the honor for facilitating all practicum placements for Pacific students majoring in social work, public health and criminal justice, more than 50 students in all. She also currently serves as the education representative for the Washington County Public Health Advisory Council.
Nominees for the Community Partner Award included the Inukai Boys and Girls Club, Washington County Public Health and the award winner, the Forest Grove School District’s Community Learning Center, which operates out of Tom McCall Upper Elementary and Forest Grove High School.