CCE Service Expo recognizes student leaders, volunteers

Eastern Connecticut State University's Center for Community Engagement (CCE) hosted its CCE Service Expo and Awards ceremony on April 15 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Susan Sukman McCray Foyer to celebrate the ongoing impact of student leaders and volunteers. The expo highlighted 19 community programs. In total for the 2024-25 academic year, approximately 800 students volunteered 13,300 hours through these programs and other special events.

CCE student leaders and volunteers presented their work on posters, with attendees and judges milling about the room and stopping to ask presenters about their work. Each project involved students aiding organizations in and around Windham.

The judges selected seven presentations for awards. Categories included "Broadening Horizons," "Leadership Development," "Promoting Mental Health," "Strengthening Communities," "Putting Liberal Arts into Action," "Supporting our Schools," and "Kids First."

Eastern President Karim Ismaili was the event's keynote speaker and praised the service opportunities afforded to Eastern students. "That doesn't happen by chance; it happens because of an incredible CCE led by (Associate Director) Lana O'Connor and (Community Engagement Coordinator) Lexie Mastroianni and all of our community."

The Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) project won the "Broadening Horizons" award. CCAR is "an addiction recovery center that is a judgment-free zone," said Allison Kazmier, a student leader who is involved with the initiative.

Kazmier also assists in running the Barrows STEM Academy Pen Pals program, which earned the "Supporting our Schools" award. In the program, which partners CCE volunteers with second-grade students, "we write back and forth on a biweekly basis," said Kazmier.

The North Windham After School program won the "Kids First" award. This program assists students in the only dual-language elementary school in the district with math and reading homework while providing social interaction, according to volunteer Ava Mayette.

The program assures children that "there are people in the community who care about them," said Mayette. "They know we're from Eastern; it promotes higher education in the community."

Student Leader Kathryn Whewell discussed the Natchaug Elementary After School program. "I aim it toward skills the kids need help building while making it a fun activity," she said. These include skills as simple as cutting paper with scissors.

Whewell hopes the children carry memories of "the relationships and memories they make with us; a fun time and people they look up to," she said.

Giavanna Marmo has led the Canterbury Girls' Mentoring program for three semesters. This initiative fosters mental health awareness and emotional intelligence for girls in fifth through eighth grade.

Two key aspects of this program include coping skills and "letters to our anger." Marmo and the girls write letters directed at sources of their anger before ripping them up to provide "closure" and "let go," she said. Marmo hopes the program will instill the importance of "letting women have their voices and recognize their value."

Nikki Flynn and Sylas Stanley-Barham collaborate to assist St. Joseph Living Center, which provides housing and community for senior citizens. The two work primarily with the recreation department at St. Joseph, according to Flynn.

Stanley-Barham hosts bingo games on Monday nights, while Flynn coordinates parties and other events "for guests to meet new faces with the volunteers," she said.

"I hope the residents know we're here for them," said Stanley-Barham. "One day, we will be elderly, and it's amazing that we can foster this sense of community."

Meghan Georgescu began the Blue Iris Farm volunteering program four semesters ago. The initiative focuses on three main areas: animal care, field trips, and creative projects.

The program involves work with children of all ages, so the field trips involve a "spin for each age group we're working with," said Georgescu. Creative projects have included making wooden signage for the farm and cultivating pollinator gardens.

Student Leader Jayson Caballero works with GROW Windham Youth Advocacy, whose current initiatives in the school district include a project called "Bring Back the Bathrooms." This project looks to unify students and faculty/staff members in combating restroom closures in public schools.

Eastern first-year student Raul Dominguez, a Windham youth advocate, is involved with this project. "It is unfair to have bathrooms closed; we believe there are better ways to address the issues we are facing," he said.

Caballero added: "We work closely with Windham youth, but from our research, there are more layers. … We want to bridge the gap between students and faculty."

Student Leader Isabelle McClelland works with the Windham Middle School and Windham Center School programs. In the middle school, the program takes on a "mentorship aspect," she said. "Guidance is important."

She continued: "Balancing elementary and middle schoolers is fun because they're so different; with Windham Center School, we make it more friendship based."

Several other service awards unrelated to the presentations were also given. Keniesha Johnson-Krewalk, assistant director of field education and special programs, earned the Service Learning Award. Tracey Megson won the Outstanding Community Event Award.

Three Community Engagement Awards rounded out the winnings: Cecilia Meléndez Pérez earned the student award, while Student Activities Director Casey Kensey received the faculty/staff distinction. Makeila Robles won the Community Partner Community Engagement Award.