Intern Insights

Facilitating Education and Service to the Community
By Zachary Hacker

Corey Straus works with students in the classroom.

One of the key assets of the College of Mount St. Joseph’s curriculum is its thriving Cooperative Education Program. A grant from the SC Ministry Foundation supports 26 students who work for 19 non-profit organizations. Incorporating diverse students majoring in many fields, such as English, communications, nursing, psychology, History, and accounting, this grant is able to fund a perfect fusion of service to the community, and hands-on education for the students. As a co-op student myself, working for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Communications Office, it is an honor to experience the seemingly endless avenues the SC Ministry Foundation grant helps the community, and the students of the College of Mount St. Joseph (CMSJ).

Meeting with many of the students working in this program, the most consistent message expressed was gratitude to be helping others. “Nothing feels more satisfying than knowing I am helping make a difference in others lives,” says Tom Ciulla, who is a Senior Communications major working for the Anthony Muños Foundation. That same charge was echoed from every other co-op student, such as Jessica Weingartner, who, working for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, is thankful to “deliver a lifesaving message.”

Working with various aspects of the community, CMSJ co-op students affect multiple facets of community life, including helping at risk elementary school children, helping to preserve neighborhood history, honoring high school academic achievement, assisting low-income homeowners, and helping the fight against breast cancer. These students are fortunate enough to realize the duality of their situations: helping the future of the community, and helping their own futures at the same time.

Amanda Varnum works as a co-op student at the Delhi Historical Society (located at 468 Anderson Ferry Rd.) along with supervisor Peg Schmidt. She is afforded the unique opportunity to “preserve the history of the community,” says Varnum, a history major at CMSJ. “The Delhi Historical Society was founded in 1976 to promote, interpret and preserve the heritage of Delhi Township, Ohio, in suburban Cincinnati” (www.delhihistoricalsociety.org). Since starting the position in November 2009, Varnum has helped at the Museum farmhouse by assisting in the annual Christmas Gala Fundraiser, and by cataloguing the many documents and artifacts that make their way to the Delhi Historical Society. “I plan on working with archives, so it helps my future, as well as allows me to understand a small museum,” says Varnum of the experience’s educational benefits. Peg Schmidt, thrilled to have Amanda working there, says it is great for her to “witness and have firsthand experience with exhibit setup.”

Representing another aspect of service to the community, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Organization employs co-op student Jessica Weingartner, who serves as grant and educational outreach intern. Her grant work, reviewing grants and interfacing with recipients, enables her to “invest properly in the community to make a difference,” says Peggy Isenogle, the programs Executive Director. “Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to curing breast cancer at every state - from the causes, to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between” (www.komencincinnati.org).

Isenogle also assures that “it is a wonderful opportunity to utilize Jessica with the program.” Weingartner also enjoys her position, “gaining experience working hands-on with a nonprofit.” As a communications major, the Cooperative Education Program allows Jessica to develop her communications skills in real world interaction, as well as “deliver a life saving message,” and promote Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s mission: “to save lives and end breast cancer forever.”

Another non-profit benefiting from the CMSJ Cooperative Education Program is People Working Cooperatively Ohio, who hired Kathryn Doepker. “People Working Cooperatively provides thousands of low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners with a higher quality of living” (www.pwchomerepairs.org/ohio). A senior accounting major, Doepker performs accounting functions, which she says enable her company to “help individuals who have a low income with certain services, such as installing a wheelchair ramp…purchasing a refrigerator…or even fixing their heat.” Citing her multitasking skills, as well as an ability to work diligently and independently, Doepker sees a direct correlation between her schoolwork and the altruistic work she is able to do for People Working Cooperatively.

Senior Thomas Ciulla, a communications co-op student, organizes the Straight “A” Luncheon for the Anthony Muñoz Foundation. This luncheon “honors high school students who exhibit academic excellence, athletic achievement, and an active role in the community while possessing a strong ambition, a winning attitude and the ability to overcome adversity” and is celebrated at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in April annually with college grants awarded to those in attendance. "The Anthony Munoz Foundation engages the Tri State region to impact area youth mentally, physically, and spiritually" (www.munozfoundation.org). The Muñoz Foundation hosts a variety of events seeking to acknowledge the youth of Greater Cincinnati, including the Impact for Eternity Camp, a Youth Leadership Seminar, a Hall of Fame Football Academy, and a Holiday Toy Collection. In his role organizing the Straight “A” Luncheon, Ciulla develops his communication skills learned at the College of Mount St. Joseph in a “real world” environment, as he is “constantly corresponding with different high schools, restaurants and businesses as I market the Straight “A” Campaign. Students will not be nominated if people inside their community are not told about this campaign. Excellent communication skills are necessary in performing such tasks.” Utilizing these gifts, Ciulla helps honor the community, and loves it: “It is a wonderful feeling to be part of something that not only enables high school students to pursue a higher education but celebrates the all-around achievements of these young people.”

In the social work field, Resurrection School and CMSJ students Corey Straus and Sherri Kleinholz mutually benefit from the Cooperative Education Program and the SC Ministry Foundation Grant. Resurrection School is a Catholic elementary school in Price Hill. Dr. Becky Lilley supervises the co-ops, and describes their job as “interacting in very creative ways, and telling the truth with love and encouraging problem solving.” Kleinholz, who is a senior psychology student at CMSJ, attests that “a lot of kids don’t realize the opportunities they have, so we try to open their eyes. There are 170 students here, and no one gets lost. They know that the faculty cares about them.” The students of Resurrection receive the benefits of having these co-ops there, who work with them through books, videos, games, role-playing, puppets, crafts and music. “We try to use examples the kids can relate to,” says Dr. Lilley. While helping Resurrection students see the value of making positive choices instead of easier destructive ones, Straus and Kleinholz better their own educations: Kleinholz says, “I’m blessed. It all comes down to the teachers I have, both Dr. Lilley and the students. I’ve been able to apply here what I learned in college.”

From a small sampling of the vast expanses of the community that the Cooperative Education Program covers, with great thanks to the SC Ministry Foundation, it is astounding how profound an impact the co-op students from the College of Mount St. Joseph make in these non-profit organizations. It is a valuable, rare opportunity to assist the community, as well as foster ones own education so substantially. The student’s diverse body of work stands as a testament to the value of cooperative education. Sherri Kleinholz, co-op at Resurrection School, sums up the program succinctly, stating, “What you learn in school is expanded through experience.”

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Zachary Hacker is a sophomore at the College of Mount St. Joseph majoring in history and English. He is a cooperative education student in the SC Communications Office this fall 2009 and spring 2010. The co-op program is funded by an SC Ministry grant through the College of Mount St. Joseph.

 

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