connecting with the world is in our dna

Transcription

argosy.edu
brownmackie.edu
southuniversity.edu
wsulaw.edu
THE COMMON THREAD
artinstitutes.edu
CONNECTING WITH THE WORLD IS IN OUR DNA
THE COMMON THREAD
2012
At Education Management Corporation (EDMC), the uniqueness of each of our
schools is a hallmark of the individuality that exists in each of the communities
we serve. After all, it’s the singular abilities, perspectives and passions of
our faculty, staff and students that set us apart, yet make us one in the spirit
of giving. No matter how different we may be, how varied our talents and
interests, there is one universal tie that binds us together: our desire to connect
with the world around us by reaching out to those in need, sharing our time and
our resources, and touching lives in ways that make a difference.
For 50 years, we have served communities across North America, providing a
quality education to hundreds of thousands of students. Every year, we commit
to doing what we can to help build “community” — devoting energy and
compassion to help others in need.
At our more than 100 schools, giving back is the common thread that creates
the fabric of who we are, what we stand for and what we will be — as
individuals, as a higher education provider and as a community. It’s in our DNA.
Our school systems include: The Art Institutes, Argosy University, Brown
Mackie College and South University. We provide rigorous academic programs
offered in supportive environments with measured practical outcomes that
enhance our students’ lives.
Connecting With The World Is In Our DNA.
to contributing to our local community and proud
that Nadia’s beautiful poster will be a central part
of ArtSSpring.”
Art Sandy Springs is dedicated to supporting
the arts in Sandy Springs and focuses on
elevating visual, performing, culinary and
landscape arts to enrich the quality of life
for residents and visitors.
STUDENTS GET REAL-WORLD
EXPERIENCE BY CELEBRATING THE
ARTS IN SANDY SPRINGS
ArtSSpring, the annual arts festival in Sandy
Springs, just outside Atlanta, has become an
eagerly anticipated celebration. Each year, the
city of Sandy Springs promotes a month’s
worth of arts events with a commemorative
poster. In September 2011, Art Sandy Springs,
the organization that created ArtSSpring, asked
The Art Institute of Atlanta if students would be
interested in creating the festival poster.
Students in faculty member Vickey Bolling-Witt’s
graphic design layout class each designed a
poster for the festival. Nadia James, who is
pursuing an Associate in Arts in Graphic Design,
was selected as the winner, and her poster was
displayed throughout the community before and
during the month-long festival, April 13 through
May 13.
James’ design was selected from more than
a dozen entries by members of the festival
committee. The winning poster was announced
during a visit to the class by Art Sandy Springs
President Elect Carol Anne Hendrix, ArtSSpring
Co-Chairs Bonnie Laney and Peggy Stapleton,
and ArtSSpring communications/public relations
liaison Cheryl Womack.
Art Institute of Atlanta President Jo Ann Koch,
commented, “We are honored that Art Sandy
Springs invited our students to design this year’s
poster. The Art Institute of Atlanta is committed
GIVING IS FASHIONABLE
In the spring of 2011, Easter Seals North
Georgia approached The Art Institute of
Atlanta–Decatur, a branch of The Art
Institute of Atlanta, with an invitation for
Courtney A. Hammonds, lead faculty in Fashion
& Retail Management, to become their fashion
ambassador and assist the organization with
creating and coordinating the winter 2012
fundraiser called “Fashion Uncorked.”
Hammonds immediately accepted and
began planning how his students could
participate in the fashion show.
But he also wanted students to get involved
with Easter Seals right away. The first
opportunity was in April 2011 with the annual
Walk with Me event. A team of 10 Art Institute
of Atlanta–Decatur students proudly walked
the 5K to raise $300 in contributions. The
second opportunity was to participate in the
annual holiday toy drive, a project that involved
the entire Art Institute of Atlanta–Decatur
community. Dozens of toys were collected to
brighten the holidays for children with disabilities
and special needs.
Norma Center, development coordinator for
Easter Seals North Georgia, commented,
“Dr. Hammonds and his students from The
Art Institute of Atlanta–Decatur made a
huge difference for us this past year. We are
thankful that our paths crossed and that we
are engaged in a common goal of helping
children. Community support is essential to our
mission — every dollar raised here stays here
in our community, helping Easter Seals provide
services and support for people with disabilities,
because everyone deserves to live with equality,
dignity and independence, and to live, learn,
work and play in their communities.”
THE ART INSTITUTE OF AUSTIN
STUDENTS ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR
AUSTIN MUSIC AWARDS
While the artists took the stage at the 30th
annual Austin Music Awards on March 14,
2012, students from The Art Institute of Austin,
a branch of The Art Institute of Houston and
sponsor of the Austin Music Awards, were busy
working behind the scenes to help ensure a
successful event designed to cap off South by
Southwest Music (SXSW).
Performers and presenters were ready to hit
the stage, in part, because the Fashion Retail
Management students from The Art Institute
of Austin were positioned backstage as stylists,
making sure each fold of fabric and all straps
were in place and ready for the audience.
Hungry guests were treated to food cooked
up by the college’s culinary students at the
SIMS Foundation VIP reception. Ology at
The International Culinary School at The Art
Institute of Austin was one of five restaurants
represented at the reception. Students prepared
food for and served approximately 1,000 guests.
The Austin Music Awards raised $7,000 for
SIMS Foundation, which provides access to and
financial support for mental health and addiction
recovery services for Austin-area musicians and
their families.
HOLLYWOOD’S HAUNTED CAMPUS
GIVES CHILDREN A TREAT
Located just a few miles from the real movie
studios of Los Angeles, The Art Institute of
California—Hollywood, a campus of Argosy
University, had plenty of inspiration and
resources to create its own scary Halloween
set for neighbors in the North Hollywood
Arts District.
To offer the community a treat, the school
invited children from Lankershim Elementary
School for an afternoon party where they would
receive candy and experience the festive
decorations imagined by the Bachelor of Science
candidates in the Set & Exhibit Design program.
The students demonstrated their technique
and skill by transforming the campus entrance
into a spine-tingling cemetery haunted by the
spirits of old-generation movie stars. The team
utilized tricks such as stringing clear fishing line
to simulate an unexpected feel of spiderwebs
and pulling apart white yarn to create the look
of the webs on headstones and other props.
A soundtrack of ghostly screams and tolling
bells also added to the scary scene. More than
30 children dressed in costumes experienced
chills and thrills thanks to this spooky design
displayed in the front lobby of the campus.
The finishing touch was Set & Exhibit Design
Academic Director Gary La Vassar himself. La
Vassar joined in the festivities by dressing up as
one of the creepy characters “on set” the day
the Lankershim students came by. “Halloween
in Hollywood is a big celebration,” he said. “Our
haunted campus was a fun way to be a part of
the community.”
a seven-course tasting meal for $75 per ticket.
The menu included elegant dishes such as a
starter of brioche crouton with an heirloom
tomato lobster medallion and wild greens bacon
dressing, an entrée course of seared duck
breast with a balsamic thyme honey glaze, and
a dessert of port fig with chocolate sauce and
pastry cream.
STUDENTS SERVE UP
CUISINE OVER CANCER
Since the campus is located in a tight-knit
region of Southern California, students at
The Art Institute of California—Inland Empire,
a campus of Argosy University, make
community outreach a priority. Last year, one
of the major activities they supported was a
fundraiser to benefit the Cuisine Over Cancer
Fund, an organization created to help the
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Stem Cell
Transplant Intensive Care Unit at Loma Linda
University Hospital.
This unit is dedicated to serving the specialized
medical needs of children, from newborns to
adolescents, diagnosed with cancers such
as leukemia, brain tumors and blood-related
diseases such as hemophilia. Loma Linda
University Hospital is situated two miles from
the campus, and each year the institution admits
more than 33,000 inpatients and serves roughly
half a million outpatients. It is the only level one
regional trauma center in the county.
Students in The International Culinary School
at The Art Institute of California—Inland Empire
Senior Practicum course selected the Cuisine
Over Cancer Fund as part of their assignment to
organize an event for a community organization.
In this endeavor, students demonstrated the
competencies they learned in class, including
accounting, marketing, menu development and
event planning.
Led by James Kellenberger, academic director
of Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, Hospitality
Food & Beverage Management, and Culinary
Management programs, and hosted by the
campus restaurant, Seasons, students prepared
“The students worked really hard to create a
successful event,” Kellenberger said. “It is a
great learning experience for them to plan and
execute an activity from start to finish and see it
pay off.” The event sold out within weeks and
the students raised more than $10,000.
garments, contributed by local sponsors,
go down the runway.
“The whole experience, from garnering
community participation to creating promotional
AUTISM AWARENESS CAUSE
SPEAKS TO FASHION STUDENTS
“The students decided to produce a fashion
As most art students know, there are many
show focused on the ability to communicate
forms of communication that allow an individual
to express him or herself. So when the students through the garments we wear,” said Claudine
Papillon, the faculty instructor who managed the
in the Fashion Marketing & Management
December 2011 benefit event.
program at The Art Institute of California—Los
Angeles, a campus of Argosy University, had the
opportunity to collaborate with Autism Speaks to Madison Frank, one of the event organizers
and a Bachelor of Science candidate, further
raise awareness of the disorder, the connection
explained, “Fashion allows us to express
between the school and the cause made for a
what we feel at a given moment. It’s our
great partnership.
individualism.”
According to the nonprofit organization, autism
The students were able to put on a show that
and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are
raised both funds and awareness. The campus
both general terms for a group of complex
hosted the evening event, “Speak,” that drew
disorders of brain development characterized by
difficulties in social interaction, as well as verbal
a supportive crowd. Guests were treated to a
and nonverbal communication.
reception before they were seated to watch the
flyers to selecting the runway design, got the
team talking about how we express ourselves
and how we can learn more about autism,”
said Papillon.
McDonald House, these items help create a
restful environment, which rejuvenates family
members and helps them to better care for and
assist their children during treatment.
The Orange County Ronald McDonald House
and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms provide
a comforting “home away from home” for
families with seriously ill children receiving
treatment in Orange County hospitals. Since
1989, more than 10,000 families from all over
A HELPING HAND FOR
THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
The Art Institute of California—Orange County,
a campus of Argosy University, makes
community outreach a priority and has formed
a Community Outreach Committee that
includes staff and faculty.
Committee Chair and The Art Institute of
California—Orange County instructor Todd
Pheifer. “We all have obstacles in life, but it
isn’t hard to find people who have even
greater difficulties.”
As one of its outreach activities, the school
executed a campus-wide drive to collect pop
tabs, the pieces of metal that open aluminum
cans, and household items for the local Ronald
McDonald House.
Small collection “houses” were placed
around the campus, and money from the tabs
contributed to the Ronald McDonald House
funds. Each tab makes a difference, and in
2011, the organization raised more than $5,000
through the program. The items collected
by The Art Institute of California — Orange
County included breakfast foods, snacks and
personal care products. According to the Ronald
“This committee is intended to be a catalyst for
future projects and address challenges faced
by our neighbors,” said Community Outreach
California, the United States and other countries
have found a comfortable place to stay for
several hours, days, weeks, months and, in
some cases, more than a year.
“Collecting pop tabs and supplies is a small step
toward helping a greater cause,” added Pheifer.
“No one is obligated to give away their time,
talents and finances, but there is something
wonderful about sharing with those in need.”
business card design that follows a new
stationery system, and a simple and visually
unified direct mail postcard. The teams also
provided a concept for a new website that
gives the visual idea and structure for the
home page and an approach to navigation. In
addition to creative development, students
participated in initial client analysis interviews,
brand review, visual audit, market positioning
and client presentations.
SACRAMENTO STUDENTS HELP
SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOYS & GIRLS
CLUBS OF GREATER SACRAMENTO
Associate of Science candidates, with a realBoys & Girls Clubs inspire and enable youth to
world assignment for a worthy cause: providing
“reach their full potential as productive, caring,
ideas that would enhance the local club’s
responsible citizens.” So it was a fitting match
that The Art Institute of California—Sacramento, brand visibility, community awareness and
marketing efforts.
a campus of Argosy University, which seeks
to provide education that builds careers and
“We appreciate the chance to involve our
transforms lives, and the Boys & Girls Clubs
students in community-based assignments
of Greater Sacramento worked together on a
that illustrate the quality and strength of our
class project.
market-focused educational program and serve
a commendable organization,” Holler said.
Graphic Design instructors Steve Holler and
Holly Agundes combined branding and design
Students produced concepts for a poster
class objectives to provide their students,
representing the club’s visual identity, a
Graphic Design Bachelor of Science and
Supervised by Esperti, students worked for five
weeks developing campaigns for the project and
a competition was held to determine the top
three campaigns. The finalists then delivered
a professional presentation to members of the
American Lung Association staff, and a winner
was selected.
“The importance of developing and delivering
real-world solutions for real clients is relevant to
AD CAMPAIGN HELPS COMMUNITY
LOOK BEYOND THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS
OF TOBACCO ADS
The Art Institute of California—San Diego, a
campus of Argosy University, showcased its
talent to the local community, producing a
visually striking propaganda-style campaign for
an awareness project with the local chapter of
The American Lung Association.
As part of a Sales and Persuasive Techniques
class, students took on the challenge of
developing a campaign that would drive
new volunteers to help The American Lung
Association keep the community informed
about the promotional activities of big
tobacco companies.
“Through this assignment, the students received
the benefit of helping an organization that is
valued in the community and gained valuable
portfolio work that showcases their willingness
to help a good cause,” said The Art Institute of
California—San Diego Advertising instructor
Rob Esperti.
The project included identifying the target
market, which was defined as the “millennial
generation,” and creating a campaign
name, logo, recruitment materials, print
advertisements, Facebook page and a guerilla
marketing program.
the professional development of our students. It
allows the students to recognize the validity of
their ideas as they work within the requirements
of client budgets and expectations,” said
Donna A. DiGioia, Ed.D., academic director of
Advertising. “It also provides a great opportunity
for students to enhance their team-building skills
and overall satisfaction that their efforts can and
do make a difference.”
BUILD DAY CREATES FUN FOR VOLUNTEERS
AND HOMES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
Each academic quarter, the Interior Design
Student Club organizes a group of student
volunteers from The Art Institute of California—
San Francisco, a campus of Argosy University,
to participate in a Habitat for Humanity build
day. During the fall 2012 quarter, a group of
students spent their Saturday as construction
workers building a home in the East Bay for a
deserving family.
“The hands-on event is both rewarding and
educational for the students. For the younger
students especially, the activity may even be
their first chance to see up close what they are
drawing and learning about in the classroom,”
said Interior Design instructor Nicholas Steele, a
LEED Green Associate and National Council for
Interior Design Qualification certificate holder.
Club president Jamie Pecina, who’s working on
a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree
and is a student member of the International
Interior Design Association, as well as the
American Society of Interior Designers, had a
similar reflection.
“As an interior design club, we see Habitat for
Humanity as a fun opportunity to experience
what it is like to be on a building site and to see
the construction work that we are taught to
document,” she said.
“I can honestly say that the work we are given
on-site is not always the easiest and, at times,
can be very exhausting, but what drives the
students and myself to volunteer time after time
is knowing that this home is going to a good
cause, and that, in and of itself, is the payoff of
volunteering,” said Pecina.
CULINARY STUDENTS GO
“CLAM TO CLAM” FOR LOCAL PARKS
AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Team Aluminum Chef, otherwise known as
As soon as the teams were allowed to “flame
The Art Institute of California—Sunnyvale,
on,” the students quickly set to cooking in their
a campus of Argosy University, culinary students, giant pots. Steady streams of steam arose from
the pans while a slight ocean breeze helped to
gathered at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
this winter ready to prepare standout recipes
cool the creamy soup.
for the 31st annual Clam Chowder Cook-Off
The crowd thickened, just like the chowder, as
& Festival.
students began serving up a $9 tasting kit that
included a bowl, spoon, five tasting tickets and
The event brought together more than 70 teams
two People’s Choice ballots.
and individuals from around Northern California
to benefit the City of Santa Cruz Parks and
The 2012 cook-off participants had a great day
Recreation Department programs.
at the beach, learned a few lessons about
competing and helped to raise more than
With the beach as a picture-perfect backdrop
$70,000 for the City of Santa Cruz Parks and
and a bustling boardwalk arcade nearby, the
Recreation Department programs.
student team divided into two camps to create
their special stews, one in the Boston style and
the other in the Manhattan.
The Art Institute of Charleston also supported
the academy’s annual capital campaign gala,
Building a Dream. Aaron Barse, a student in the
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design program,
designed the invitation for the gala. Art Institute
of Charleston President Rick Jerue chaired the
fundraising committee for the gala.
SUPPORTING EDUCATION
THROUGH THE ARTS
It was 4 p.m., but the classroom at Charleston
Development Academy buzzed with laughter
and activity. In this after-school program, more
than a dozen elementary-age girls were busily
designing and building models of their own
fashion stores, assisted by student volunteers
and faculty member Kimberly P. McHenryWilliams from the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion &
Retail Management program at The Art Institute
of Charleston, a branch of The Art Institute of
Atlanta. As shoe boxes were transformed into
colorful retail shops, the students used their
creativity to learn about store layouts and retail
product mix while also seeing new possibilities
for their own futures.
The “Store in a Box” project was one of many
that students, faculty and staff from The Art
Institute of Charleston undertook at Charleston
Development Academy in the past year. Other
highlights included a poetry writing workshop
with general education faculty member Marjory
Wentworth, who also brought a special guest,
children’s book author Kwame Alexander, to visit
with students; a holiday gift-making workshop
organized by Wentworth and fellow general
education faculty member Christy Whipple;
and an Angel Tree with school supplies for the
academy’s teachers, which involved faculty from
all departments.
Charleston Development Academy, founded in
2003, is a public charter school for pre-K through
eighth grade. The school is committed to a
coherent core curriculum, cultural diversity and
including the arts as an integral part of learning
at all levels. Through the avenues of music,
drama, visual arts, art therapy and cultural field
trips, students receive unique and expressive
opportunities for the exploration of new ideas,
subject matter, and self-discovery of talents
and interests.
Jerue commented, “Under the inspirational
leadership of Cecelia Rogers, Charleston
Development Academy has become a safe
haven for its students and their families. With
its emphasis on the arts as an integral part
of academic and intellectual development, it
is a perfect fit for our students’ and faculty’s
contributions. The Art Institute of Charleston
looks forward to a mutually beneficial
relationship with Charleston Development
Academy for many years to come.”
A SNAPSHOT OF HOPE
FOR MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Dogs at the Humane Society of Charlotte struck
a pose and gave student photographers their
best puppy dog eyes in the hopes that their
headshots would land them loving new homes.
The photos were posted to the Humane Society
of Charlotte’s website, where visitors could click
on a dog’s profile to learn more about him or her
and see additional photographs.
Each month, starting in January 2012, members
of The Art Institute of Charlotte’s “Click! Club”
traveled to the Humane Society to photograph
dogs that were having a difficult time being
adopted — dogs that had been at the Humane
Society for an extended period of time or dogs
that were older or had special needs.
The Humane Society of Charlotte saw a
wonderful increase in adoption numbers with
the dogs that the students photographed.
Deanna Lasner, board chair at the Humane
Society, said the photos “really show the
personalities [of the dogs].”
NOT YOUR AVERAGE
SNOWBOARD
Snowboards became the canvas for 15 students
from The Art Institute of Colorado in March
2012. The student chapter of the American
Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) at the college
held a snowboard design competition and
auction to benefit the Denver Art Society and its
mission to organize independent artists while
providing venues for creative development.
The nonprofit organization hosts classes,
performances, cultural events and peer
collaboration for people 25 years of age and
younger in the La Alma, Lincoln Park, Baker and
Golden Triangle neighborhoods of Denver.
While on display at Denver Pavilion in the
downtown area, the snowboards were available
through a silent auction with a starting price of
$70 for each board. Denver residents “shredded”
the display, “wiping out” the students’ artwork
during the auction, which garnered more than
$1,500 for the Denver Art Society and the AIGA
student chapter at The Art Institute of Colorado.
“I am so proud of the initiative and drive of
my students,” said Chris Chen Mahoney,
academic department chair of Graphic Design
at The Art Institute of Colorado. “They took
the art they are passionate about and created
an entire community event around it. To top it
off, they were able to assist a vital nonprofit in
our community.”
THE ART INSTITUTE OF DALLAS IS EN FUEGO!
Institute of Dallas, a campus of South University,
brought the heat to the third annual Chefs on
Fire event in April 2012. Student volunteers,
graduates of the college’s Culinary Arts
programs, and chef instructors were on hand to
help raise more than $10,000 for the Parkland
Regional Burn Center.
The Parkland Regional Burn Center, established
in 1962, is the second largest in the United
States, providing care that is modeled around
the world. The acute care and intensive care
units are recognized internationally for providing
a source of surgical expertise and rehabilitation
to burn survivors of all ages.
Attendees lined the streets to watch 23 chef
participants, including The Art Institute of Dallas’
chef instructors and Culinary Arts students, each
team up with one firefighter to compete in the
daylong Chefs on Fire grilling competition.
Cook-offs took place throughout the day,
culminating with the championship round
judged by area chefs and instructors from The
International Culinary School at The Art Institute
of Dallas. Chef instructor Steven Pilat and
fireman partner Lenny Longoria took the grand
prize honor in the final heat for their preparation
of seared duck and grilled quail covered in a
honey apricot sauce.
The community block party hosted by The
Texas Chefs Association (TCA) and area
firefighters took place at The Shops at Park Lane,
right outside the college’s campus doors. Chef
Brenden Mesch, associate dean of academic
affairs at The Art Institute of Dallas, and Chef
Robert Gillentine, 2003 Associate of Applied
Science in Culinary Arts graduate of The
of Dallas, served as event chairs on behalf of
the TCA.
CELEBRATING FORT LAUDERDALE’S
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
The African-American community of
Fort Lauderdale has a long and rich history,
honored and preserved for the past 10 years
by the African-American Research Library and
Cultural Center. In recognition of that 10th
anniversary, Industrial Design and Interior
Design students and faculty at The Art Institute
of Fort Lauderdale worked together to organize
and launch the yearlong exhibition “Fabulous
Forties on the Avenue.” The exhibition, which
will be the center of a series of events taking
place during the coming year, depicts the
African-American community at Northwest
5th Avenue as it was in the 1940s, including
a timeline, interactive kiosks, displays
and carefully executed models of homes,
businesses and street scenes of the period.
The exhibition, in addition to being a semipermanent part of the library, will be used as an
educational tool for students from elementary
schools in Broward County who visit the library
and center.
Featured are a number of items and artifacts
from the era, including a 1941 Lincoln
Continental, an icebox, a Victrola music
player and a 1949 Triumph “Tiger 100” series
motorcycle. The students designed reproduction
facades of businesses such as the Victory
Theater, the Benton Funeral Home, the
Dillard School and the local barbershop and
beauty salon.
Faculty leadership for the project included
Elizabeth Glenn, Interior Design, and Win
Menish and Terri Laurenceau, Industrial Design.
The student team included Mike Lewandowski,
Annique Reynald, Jonathan Welch, Dominic
Fasino, all Bachelor of Science students in
Interior Design and Megan Francis, a Bachelor
of Science student in Fashion Design. The entire
class of students in the summer quarter of the
Human Factor class taught by Win Menish
created concepts for two of the interactive
kiosks. The renderings for the exhibition
concept were created by Mike Romero, a
Bachelor of Science student in Industrial Design.
Professional exhibit designer Rick Boggs of
Sixth Star Entertainment in Fort Lauderdale,
a 2004 Bachelor of Science in Industrial
Design graduate from The Art Institute of Fort
Lauderdale, provided his professional skills in the
execution of the design.
According to Jan Merle, faculty member in
Interior Design, “This is a significant
achievement for our departments’ students
and faculty members.”
“This project offered our students an opportunity
to showcase their skills while also working for
a vital cause,” said Lourdes Gipson, campus
director at The Art Institute of Fort Worth.
“This was a wonderful community partnership
and also teaches our students the value of
philanthropy.”
FEEDING THE HUNGRY
WITH A “CAN-DO” ATTITUDE
Students from The Art Institute of Fort Worth,
a campus of South University, proved that art
could come in just about any form, including
canned goods. In October 2011, students in the
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design program
participated in “Canstruction” in Fort Worth’s
North East Mall in Hurst, Texas. The competition
challenged teams to create art out of thousands
of cans of food. The students’ original design
was made up of 4,238 cans featuring the Texas
flag, Texas map and a tribute to soldiers.
Canstruction, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that
holds annual design and build competitions to
construct giant structures made entirely out of
canned food. In each city, after the structures
are built and the winners declared, the creations
go on display to the general public. At the close
of the competitions, all of the food used in the
structures is donated to the local food banks for
distribution to community emergency feeding
programs.
Members of the community could vote for their
favorite canstructure with a $1 donation that
went to community food banks. The Fort Worth
area can and monetary donations went to the
Tarrant Area Food Bank, Community Food Bank
and the North Texas Food Bank.
TENNIS AND TECHNOLOGY
TEAM UP
Web Design & Interactive Media instructor
LaToyia Penny believes hands-on experience
is the best way for her Art Institute of Houston
students to learn the valuable skills they need
for the real world. But that’s not the only reason
her students took on the task of redesigning
the Houston Tennis Association (HTA) website
during the summer of 2011. The nonprofit
organization has been working to foster and
support good health and sportsmanship through
the game of tennis since 1952. Penny and her
students wanted to do their part to support HTA.
The 20 students in the Intermediate Scripting
class split up into six groups. Each group had
11 weeks to build a plan, develop a layout and
implement a site for HTA. When the work was
completed, the students presented their final
product to their “client,” and HTA chose the
design created by Web Design & Interactive
Communications diploma student Heidy Godoy,
Associate of Applied Science in Web Design
& Interactive Media student Rachel Goss,
and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Web Design &
Interactive Media student Angel Jagrup.
HTA Junior Team Tennis Coordinator Sherri
Shulman said, “The students were great to
work with, giving our site the facelift it needed.
It was a hard choice to make because all of the
concepts were so strong.”
STUDENTS CREATE AFFORDABLE
CHIC FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Students at The Art Institute of Houston—North,
a branch of The Art Institute of Houston, proved
that fashion doesn’t have to break the bank and
can also have a heart at Noir et Blanc, a fashion
show produced by the college’s Fashion Show
Production class in December 2011.
The students teamed up with Citizens for
Animal Protection (CAP), a private, nonprofit
organization that provides shelter, adoption,
foster care, rescue and other valuable services
to animals in need in the Houston area. Noir
et Blanc was held at CAP’s new shelter, The
Jane Cizik Center.
The goal of the partnership was to provide
students an opportunity to showcase their
skills while raising awareness about the shelter
and the plight of animals in need. “We feel
it is so important to be good neighbors in our
community,” said Susanne Behrens, president
of The Art Institute of Houston—North. “This
was a terrific opportunity to combine the
educational goals of our students with a truly
beneficial community service.”
The clothing for the fashion show came from
CAP’s thrift store, whose proceeds go to the
animal shelter. Students chose and styled
garments from the store for the runway,
illustrating that good style doesn’t have to be a
great financial burden.
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL WORLD
WHEN FASHION AND DANCE
GO TOGETHER
When students in Beau Monde, the fashion
club at The Art Institute of Indianapolis, were
asked to utilize their expertise at a fundraiser
for a local dance company, the group jumped
at the opportunity. Dance Kaleidoscope (DK)
reached out to the students to style four models
in 1940s cigarette girls costumes for a February
2012 event.
“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to
put the skills we learned in the classroom to
work in the real world helping a community
organization,” said Madison Hanulak, president
of Beau Monde and a Bachelor of Science in
Fashion Design student at The Art Institute
of Indianapolis.
DK, established in 1972, is known as Indiana’s
premier professional contemporary dance
company. As a mainstay of its mission, DK
consistently brings the finest quality dance
performances to diverse audiences of all ages
with a strong emphasis on arts education.
Beau Monde chose students from The Art
Institute of Indianapolis to serve as the
cigarette girl models for the event. Beau Monde
researched the era and clothing styles carefully
to ensure that the looks they chose would be
authentic to the time period. At the event, and
in true-to-the-era form, the cigarette girls sold
chocolates with all proceeds benefitting DK.
“We were honored to be part of this event and
hope to find more ways to partner with the
community,” Hanulak said.
HAUTE HOLIDAY WREATHS FROM
THE ART INSTITUTES INTERNATIONAL –
KANSAS CITY BENEFIT AIDS FOUNDATION
Some of the most celebrated designers and
artists in the Kansas City area take five each
holiday season to create wreaths and décor
for the annual Design Industries Foundation
Fighting Aids (DIFFA) “Holidays by Design”
silent auction. Four Interior Design students
from The Art Institutes International—Kansas
City were invited to create wreaths for the
November 2011 event.
Working off a “Designing by the Decades”
theme, the students fashioned haute pieces,
including a garland decorated with CDs from the
90s, a My Little Pony throwback from the 80s,
a tribute to the Brat Pack classic “Pretty in Pink”
and a feathered art-deco design channeling
the 20s.
Eager to get in on the action, Chef Steve
Venne, the culinary academic director at
Institutes International—Kansas City, also
produced a wreath using his tools of the trade
— kitchen implements and gingerbread made up
his holiday garland.
The wreaths were on display at Country Club
Plaza and Crossroads Art districts until the
organization’s fundraising event. “Holidays
by Design” raised a total of $45,000, with all
proceeds benefiting the local DIFFA chapter.
DIFFA is one of the country’s largest supporters
of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS
and preventive education for those at risk.
of social service projects for members of
specially marked lids that the campus collected.
The Art Institutes International Minnesota
The Art Institutes International Minnesota
sent more than 675 lids to Yoplait’s national
community. Eager to engage the campus in a
headquarters, raising both dollars and awareness. variety of local nonprofit programs, Bates said,
“I simply find this type of work to be rewarding
Participating in community outreach initiatives
and greatly beneficial for our students.”
such as this one has reinforced the importance
SAVING LIDS TO SAVE LIVES:
THE ART INSTITUTES INTERNATIONAL
MINNESOTA PAYS IT FORWARD
Six ounces. One lid. Ten cents. Countless lives.
The Art Institutes International Minnesota has
contributed to Yoplait Yogurt’s “Save Lids to
Save Lives” campaign since 2010, donating
hundreds of pink ribbon lids each year.
Committed to improving the quality of life
for those in their community and beyond, the
campus takes the initiative to purchase specially
marked yogurt containers during Breast Cancer
Awareness Month and distributes them to
students and faculty members roaming the halls
between classes.
Inspired by the initial success of the college’s
688-lid submission in 2010, event organizer
and Director of Career Services Becky Bates
expanded the program to include an educational
component in the college’s second year of
participation. The campus hosted an awarenessinspired event on Oct. 26, 2011. Faculty and
staff volunteered to man informational tables
lined with breast cancer awareness pamphlets
and provided yogurt for attendees.
While students learned more about breast
cancer, they snacked on yogurt with the
The school’s participation also included two
lectures. In “The Era at the End of a Rainbow:
Post WWII Design Trends,” Interior Design
faculty member Rachel Simmons focused on
post-war design trends, providing an overview
of the era and how it affected interior furnishing
technology, buying habits, design and color
trends as forecasted by Home and Garden
Magazine between the years of 1949 and 1965.
COMMEMORATING AN ERA
AND HONORING
WORLD WAR II VETERANS
Students and faculty members at The Art
Institute of Jacksonville, a branch of Miami
International University of Art & Design,
partnered with Jacksonville’s Museum of
Science and History (www.themosh.org.)
to create a major exhibition titled “Currents
of Time.” The exhibition, which opened in
November 2011, is a walk back in time through
the history of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida.
From the earliest inhabitants of more than
12,000 years ago to modern day events, visitors
can learn how the area of land now called
Jacksonville became the city it is today. The
segment of the exhibition created by students
and faculty focuses on postwar culture and
honors World War II veterans.
The Art Institute of Jacksonville’s contribution
to the “Currents of Time” exhibition involved
a collaborative effort between the students
and faculty in several departments. The Interior
Design department showcased renderings of
homes as they were during World War II, while
the Fashion & Retail Management department
focused on fashion influences of the period.
Digital Photography students documented the
era through inspirational photographs, while
Culinary students spotlighted cultural culinary
influences and the Graphic Design department
created artistic interpretations of postwar
culture, as well as other art and design projects
featuring this historic subject.
In the second lecture, Chef John Maxwell,
Culinary department chair, focused on
World War II food rationing and how those
practices still affect us today in his discussion of
the challenge of “Cooking with Wartime Rations.”
“What made the ‘Currents of Time’ exhibition
so special is not only that it honored veterans
who have and are serving our country, but it
was also an excellent example of collaboration
between the students and faculty from multiple
programs,” said Catherine Pliess, department
chair of Interior Design at The Art Institute
of Jacksonville.
STUDENT ANGELS TRIM THE TREE
OF HOPE FOR AREA CHILDREN
Every holiday season, excitement builds for kids
around the world as they wonder what Santa
Claus will put under their trees. But for too many
children, the holidays come and go with little joy
and nothing to unwrap come Christmas morning.
That’s why students, faculty and staff at The Art
Institute of Las Vegas participate in the Salvation
Army: Angel Tree program.
For two days during the holiday season,
members of The Art Institute of Las Vegas
community set up shop at the Galleria at Sunset
in Henderson, Nev. They man the Angel Tree,
handing out wish lists for the children to mall
customers so they can make the holidays
brighter for area kids. “We are so proud to be
part of this program and to help children in
the area,” said Sallie Palmer, dean of student
affairs at The Art Institute of Las Vegas. “It’s
also such a valuable life lesson for our students.
Volunteering is a way everyone can give back to
his or her community. Everyone can volunteer
their time regardless of their financial situation.”
The goal is to ensure that each child in the Angel
Tree program has two or three presents to open
on Christmas morning.
For the 2011 holiday season, volunteers
from the college collected more than 800
items including toys, clothing, toiletries and
cash donations. The Art Institute of Las Vegas
has participated in the Angel Tree program
since 2005.
out to their families, friends, churches and
local community organizations for help in
collecting the crayons. Present at the grand
opening event to receive the donations was
Operation: Kid Equip president and CEO,
Menachem Michael Kniespeck.
A HELPING HAND
FOR METRO DETROIT CHILDREN
TO COLOR THEIR WORLD
At its grand opening celebration on Oct. 26,
2011, The Art Institute of Michigan—Troy, an
additional location of The Illinois Institute of
Art—Chicago, presented Operation: Kid Equip
with a donation of 200 boxes of crayons and a
donation check for $500.
Operation: Kid Equip is a Detroit-based
organization that helps at-risk students by
providing free school supplies, books, hygiene
items, clothing and food. After learning
that 22 percent of Michigan children live in
poverty, Operation: Kid Equip set forth to
help communities in metro Detroit and assist
children to reach their highest potential. The
organization’s goal is to help improve public
education and the psychosocial well-being of
children who are underprivileged.
“At The Art Institute of Michigan—Troy, we
are committed to providing students with
educational opportunities that will help prepare
them for creative and rewarding careers,”
said Turner Berg, campus director for The Art
Institute of Michigan—Troy. “We are delighted
to support a worthwhile nonprofit organization
like Operation: Kid Equip that shares our
philosophy for helping students to succeed.”
The Art Institute of Michigan—Troy hosted
the crayon-raiser Oct. 10 — 25, 2011, and
encouraged faculty, staff and students to reach
“We are truly humbled by the continued support
from the community and valued partners like
The Art Institute of Michigan—Troy,” said
Kniespeck. “Unfortunately, many local families
are faced with limited resources when it comes
to providing the tools for students to succeed —
and at Operation: Kid Equip we are proud to do
our part.”
taught me at a very young age, ‘If you don’t like
the way you feel, change the way you think.’ It
always ‘feels’ so good to give — no one can
disagree with that — especially giving to our
children,” said Dr. A. Anne Bowers, Jr., general
education instructor at The Art Institute
of Michigan.
ADDING LOVE AND LIGHT
TO CHILDREN’S LIVES
For its 2011 Charity Drive, faculty and staff at
The Art Institute of Michigan set out to bring
color and joy to the lives of sick children by
collecting donations for C.S. Mott Children’s
Hospital at the University of Michigan, one
of the nation’s leading pediatric institutions
providing care to seriously ill or injured children.
“When a great-nephew of mine was born with
multiple health concerns, I quickly became
aware of what a wonderful, caring place Mott
Hospital is for their young patients and family
members … especially in a time of crisis. So
I was quite excited when Mott was selected
for our charity drive,” said Judy Poppenger,
administrative assistant at The Art Institute
of Michigan.
The charity drive brought in donations that
filled more than six bins with toys, clothes and
blankets for children between infancy and the
age of two. A few of the donated blankets were
even handmade.
The campus also held a “Wear Your Jeans to
Work” day to raise money for additional items.
The donations were delivered to the hospital
where they were gratefully received by Mott’s
community relations representative,
Byron Myer.
The donations not only made things a little
brighter for the young patients, but they also
gave faculty and staff the great feeling that
they were making a difference. “My great aunt
AN AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIAL
FROM THE STUDIO
Young Audiences New York (yaNY), a nonprofit
organization specializing in bringing arts
programming to under-funded schools in the
New York area, has two new videos to help
promote their Youth Labs after-school programs
thanks to Digital Filmmaking students at The
Art Institute of New York City. The Art Institute
of New York City students worked with yaNY
to create videos for yaNY’s Animation Project
and Music Unites Youth Choir, two after-school
programs that empower youth through the
study, creation and presentation of original,
skilled work.
yaNY works with more than 200 teaching artists
who commit their time and talent through after-
school and residency programs and in-school
performances. According to John Seroff, director of
marketing and public relations for yaNY, the videos
serve a twofold purpose: to help teachers and
principals understand yaNY’s mission and to provide
opportunities for investors to see the impact the
programs have on a child or group of students.
“I like the whole idea that our students helped
high school students become exposed to the
arts,” said Jason Moore, Animation instructor
at The Art Institute of New York City. “I think
it’s really great that our students gave back
in that manner.” The Art Institute of New
York City became involved with yaNY after
graduate Phillip Swift became the organization’s
“The Art Institute of New York City students
filmmaker in residence. Swift mentioned the
marketing department’s need for the videos, and have gone far beyond their required assignment
to provide us with films that accurately and
“it was a match made in heaven,” Moore said.
As part of The Art Institute of New York City’s
artistically represent the great work we’re
doing here at Young Audiences New York. They
Professional Production Team class, students
helped bring our vision to life in a very real
are required to work with real-world clients,
and meaningful way,” said Seroff. “For an
managing the projects from start to finish.
organization that has limited resources available
According to Moore, the pressure is on the
for video marketing, having access to this level
students to deliver, which makes for a very
of artistry has been significant.”
real experience. Groups of three to 10
students worked on the videos, managing all
aspects of production from conceiving visual
and editorial strategies to the filming, editing
and sound production.
BRAS ACROSS THE BRIDGE
HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER
The Art Institute of Ohio—Cincinnati lent some
extra support in the form of bras as the college
participated in local radio station Q102’s (WKRQ)
fourth annual Bras Across the Bridge benefit.
The breast cancer awareness event, held at
Newport on the Levee in Kentucky, raised more
than $8,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Students, faculty and staff of The Art Institute
of Ohio—Cincinnati contributed more than 100
decorated brassieres to be included in a string of
clasped bras long enough to span the length of
the bridge. Volunteers raised the bras in unison
on the Purple People Bridge as a symbolic
gesture to raise awareness for the cause.
The students also supported the station’s
seventh annual Bosom Ball for Breast Cancer.
The evening of hope and help in providing
support to those touched by breast cancer in the
Cincinnati area featured the intricately decorated
bras created by the students. Proceeds from
the event went to the Susan G. Komen for the
Cure and The American Cancer Society’s breast
cancer programs.
presentation of vintage radio and television
commercials, the exhibit definitely covered
everything from soup to … soup!
CAMPBELL’S SOUP IS
MMM, MMM – ART!
There aren’t many American icons as
recognizable as the familiar red and white can
of Campbell’s Soup. For nearly 150 years, it’s
been a staple found in kitchen pantries across
the country. What better subject for a great
retrospective presented by The Art Institute
of Philadelphia Gallery called “Campbell’s: 142
Years of Design — Women, Soup and Warhol”?
And what better outcome than the donation
of 2,000 cans of Campbell’s tomato soup to
Philabundance, Philadelphia’s largest hunger
relief organization?
While Andy Warhol turned the Campbell’s
Soup can into pop art, the variety of designs
and their functions began decades before. The
exhibit specifically focused on the contributions
throughout Campbell’s history made by women,
for example mothers and workers; artists such
as Gracie Gebbie Drayton, who created the
Campbell’s Kids back in 1904; leaders such as
Margaret Rudkin, founder of Pepperidge Farm,
now part of Campbell and the first woman to
serve on the company’s board of directors; and
Denise Morrison, Campbell’s current president
and CEO.
The exhibit featured a large number of the
most iconic items found in the company’s
private archives. From vintage advertisements
to antique Campbell’s Kids dolls and a paper
“Souper” dress from the 1960s to a multimedia
Students, faculty and staff from The Art Institute
of Philadelphia worked with Campbell’s staff
to select the materials for the display, as well
as create an exhibit catalog and install the
exhibit. Graphic Design students designed a
graphic timeline highlighting the role of women
in the history of the Campbell Soup Company.
Industrial Design students engineered and
installed a giant sculpture of the Campbell’s
“C” using the 2,000 cans of tomato soup
that were donated to Philabundance after
the exhibit closed.
Said Tina M. Rothfuss, senior manager, major
gifts at Philabundance,“The opening was a
wonderful event, where three institutions
important to our city came together — Campbell
Soup Company, The Art Institute of Philadelphia
and Philabundance. We are very grateful for the
support and for being selected to be
the beneficiary.”
GETTING THEIR “JUST DESSERTS”
WITH ARIZONA’S TOP FEMALE CHEFS
Phoenix residents gave their taste buds a
workout for a good cause. On Nov. 19, 2011,
27 top female chefs from around Arizona came
together to entice guests’ palates and ensure
aspiring chefs had a chance to hone their
culinary skills at the annual “Getting Our Just
Desserts” event at The Art Institute of Phoenix.
including weekend getaways, dining packages,
culinary products, photography packages
and more.
The fundraiser netted $6,200 with proceeds
going toward scholarships for high school
students seeking culinary careers and training
for student chefs entering competitions.
Hundreds attended the school’s fundraiser,
benefiting Careers through Culinary Arts
“The Art Institute of Phoenix has been such
Program (C-CAP). Attendees had the opportunity a valuable partner to C-CAP,” said Jill Smith,
to taste a variety of sweets and savories. Chefs
Arizona director at C-CAP. “The tremendous
also held a series of demonstrations covering
support we receive helps us to do more
cheese, olive oil, tea, chocolate and food
community outreach and helps students
photography. Attendees had an opportunity to
interested in the culinary arts to achieve their
bid in a silent auction on items donated by area
educational goals.”
businesses and members of the community,
Eyes,” which highlighted the town through the
eyes of the artists. The goal of the show was
to raise awareness and showcase the appeal of
McKees Rocks to visitors and other residents
in the region. The exhibit featured work by
students, faculty and alumni in a variety of
mediums, including digital prints, colored pencil,
photography and painting.
REVITALIZING A TOWN
THROUGH ART
McKees Rocks, Pa., a rustbelt town located
in the greater Pittsburgh area, got an image
makeover thanks to students at The Art
Institute of Pittsburgh. This makeover started
as an interior design project for the Creative
and Project Management Techniques class
and morphed into Outside Eyes, an art show
at The Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees
Rocks. Interior Design instructor Lisa Whitney
was looking to improve an underserved area
through art for her project classes. After
brainstorming with Angela Love, a Media Arts
& Animation instructor, she and Love met with
representatives of McKees Rocks to find out
exactly what the town needed and how their
classes could contribute their talents to help
the community.
This project was the inaugural attempt to provide
a civic-minded opportunity for students, and
the idea led to an entire campaign of materials
that McKees Rocks can use to self-promote,
including brochures, a logo, maps and interactive
social media. The students also produced a
fly-through animation of a new and improved
corridor of the main street. The animation made
it possible for the citizens to see a revamped
McKees Rocks.
What is even more impressive, however, is
what the students did after the class was
over. Inspired by the work they did in class and
motivated to challenge people’s perceptions
of McKees Rocks, students took it upon
themselves to host an art show titled “Outside
“This project reflected my belief that we can
creatively do good work that is GOOD work.
The students didn’t only energize or revitalize a
community; more than creating their art, they
generated a sense of civic responsibility and a
spirit of advocacy,” said Love.
UNITING ONLINE STUDENTS
IN REAL-WORLD VOLUNTEER PROJECTS
In October 2011, students from The Art Institute
of Pittsburgh—Online Division volunteered to
make a difference in their communities as part
of the fourth annual Hometown Challenge, a
month-long, nationwide humanitarian effort.
Residential Planning, the program grew from
less than 50 Residential Planning students and
faculty to more than 300 student and faculty
volunteers from across all online programs in
just four years.
Hometown Challenge is the brainchild of Sherri
Wakefield Mangin, Online Program Director for
Residential Planning and Kitchen & Bath Design.
“Four years ago, I was sitting in meetings in
Pittsburgh discussing ways to enhance the
online student experience. The idea of a national
volunteer project began to take shape in my
mind,” said Mangin. “I wanted to find a way to
unite all of the Residential Planning students in
a single effort while making a difference in the
lives of others. At this point, the Hometown
Challenge was born.”
For Hometown Challenge 2011, the students
and faculty members volunteered for a wide
range of projects that had an impact on their
local communities. One of these projects
included painting the garden wall for the
Escalante Community Garden in the Phoenix
area. Other organizations served by the
Hometown Challenge program include the
Veterans Home of California in Barstow, Calif.,
Atlanta-area cancer organizations, Relay for Life,
Uniontown, Ohio Lions Diabetes Awareness,
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of the
Houston area and the Church of the Cross in
Savannah, Ga.
In the hands of co-chairs Rachelle Starr and
Donna Pennella, both full-time faculty for
INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENTS
HELP RAISE AWARENESS FOR LUPUS
BY SERVING UP STYLE
Serving Up Style is the premier design event of
Portland, Ore. Top local designers and design
companies create unique and stunning dining
environments all in an effort to raise awareness
for lupus and benefit the nonprofit organization
Molly’s Fund.
In October 2011, a team of talented Interior
Design students from The Art Institute
of Portland entered the tabletop design
competition, the centerpiece of the Serving
Up Style gala event.
The students created a tableau about a
sophisticated temptress whose dark thoughts
have taken over and led her to coerce her
gentleman caller into a deep chocolate
seduction that has rendered him unable to speak
or move. Fittingly, the exquisite scene takes
place in cosmopolitan surroundings with a clean
and classic style symbolic of the femme fatale’s
taste for opulence and luxury.
The team’s entry, “Mort Par Chocolat,” took
home the “Outstanding Tabletop” award.
Interior Design faculty members Marjorie
Marcellus and Amanda Rickenbach mentored
the team of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior
Design candidates that included students
Kaylene Cambell, Allison Basset, Minh Duong,
Heather Winkel, Mindy Porterfield and
Jenna Finch.
SHINING A LIGHT
ON THE FIGHT
AGAINST CANCER
On Nov. 5, 2011, The Art Institute of Raleigh–
Durham joined hundreds of volunteers on the
lawn of Diamond View Park in Durham, N.C.,
for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS)
annual Light the Night Walk. This event marked
the third year that The Art Institute of
Raleigh–Durham has come together for this
worthy cause. More than 110 teams and nearly
1,300 people made this a record-breaking year
for the LLS event.
Helium-filled balloons inserted with a small
battery-powered bulb lit up the night as
walkers made their way through the streets
of downtown Durham. Walkers carried red
balloons for supporters, white balloons for
survivors and gold balloons in memory of loved
ones lost to cancer.
The walk was preceded by an emotional
ceremony remembering those who have died,
as well as recognizing survivors. A table filled
with delicious cookies, provided by culinary
students at The Art Institute of Raleigh–Durham,
greeted walkers when they returned to the park.
Prior to the walk, The Art Institute of
Raleigh–Durham’s team held a raffle and an
exclusive five-course dinner complete with wine
pairings to help raise money for the fight
against blood cancers.
Bicycle Collective Executive Director Jonathan
Morrison added, “They really tried to figure
out what we wanted and what we needed and
what they could do for us. They asked a lot of
questions and the final product wound up
CHANGING THE WORLD
ONE BIKE AT A TIME
About 10,000. That’s how many used bikes
the Bicycle Collective has received since the
organization opened its doors in 2002. They’ve
been able to refurbish about 80 percent of them.
The rest they’ve used for parts.
But the organization wants those numbers
to grow. That’s where the Digital Marketing
Strategies class at The Art Institute of Salt
Lake City stepped in. Nine Digital Filmmaking
& Video Production students worked under the
leadership of their instructor, Gabe Veenendaal,
to create a commercial for the Bicycle Collective
to help improve awareness and increase
bike donations.
The nonprofit’s goal is to promote cycling as
an effective form of transportation and as a
cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier and safer
society. In addition to refurbished bikes, the
Bicycle Collective also provides educational
programs and focuses its efforts on children
and lower income households.
Students started work on the video project
in September 2011 and completed it by the
time the quarter ended in December, working
alongside the Bicycle Collective the entire
time. “It’s so important for them to have the
experience of interfacing, developing and
creating a project for a real-world client,”
said Veenendaal.
being what we all envisioned because of our
collaborative process.”
Morrison said he’s already seen an uptick in
bicycle donations since the video was posted to
YouTube.
community,” said Michelle Woodland, Food &
Beverage Operations Management instructor at
The Art Institute of San Antonio.
“We would not be able to do what we do without
the student support,” said Susan Rigg, Slow
Food South Texas chapter president. “They
ALL ABOUT SLOW FOOD
AT THE ART INSTITUTE
OF SAN ANTONIO
Culinary students are known for taking any
opportunity to hone their skills in a realworld environment. And sometimes those
opportunities are also a great way to help
the community. That’s why students at The
of San Antonio, a branch of The Art Institute
of Houston, jumped at the chance to work
alongside their chef instructors and professional
chefs from around the community at the first
annual Slow Food South Texas Harvest Gala in
November 2011.
Students were paired with professional chefs to
do prep work at the event, which raised money
and awareness for Slow Food South Texas.
The organization’s mission is to ensure food is
good — created with care from healthy plants
and animals and enjoyed with friends and family;
clean — nutritious food that is as good for the
planet as it is for our bodies, leaving the earth
unharmed for future generations; and fair — food
should be accessible to all, regardless of income,
and produced by people who are treated with
dignity and respect.
“This event was a great experience for the
students, not only because they worked
hands-on with skilled chefs, but also because
it reinforced their respect for food and for the
helped with everything, from going into the
kitchens and prepping food to cleanup.”
The Harvest Gala raised $6,000 toward Slow
Food South Texas programs, which include
organic community gardens at area schools.
that can be found at Goodwill stores, which has
a direct impact in driving awareness and traffic
to the retail outlets.”
FROM HAND-ME-DOWNS
TO HAUTE COUTURE:
FASHION STUDENTS BRING IT TO
THE GOODWILL GLITTER GALA
In its fourth year, the Glitter Gala is a fundraiser
to support the Seattle Goodwill Industry Career
Pathways program, which helps participants
create a career and learning plan to achieve
their goals.
As part of the event held on Nov. 9, 2011,
students in The Art Institute of Seattle Fashion
Design and Fashion Marketing programs
organized a fashion show themed “Fire &
Ice,” presenting stunning outfits straight from
the racks of Goodwill stores. In an impressive
display of creativity using repurposed materials,
students turned tablecloths, curtains, vintage
garments and even household goods such as
mirrors and artificial flowers into glamorous
evening gowns. The show also included original
designs by student winners of a challenge to
entirely repurpose items found in Goodwill
stores that demonstrate the event theme.
The show served to promote the Glitter Sale,
as well, which is a special sale of top brand
items collected throughout the year and
“glittery” goods including shoes, vintage
dresses and jewelry.
“We are very proud to manage the show
because it is a key aspect of the event,” said
Karin Wu, The Art Institute of Seattle Fashion
Design and Fashion Marketing academic director.
“Our work showcases the great gems in fashion
In addition to the show, the evening included
a lively reception, dinner, entertainment and a
silent auction. Approximately 600 people were
in attendance, and the event raised more than
$250,000. Founded in 1923, Seattle Goodwill
is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
provide free job training and education to those
in need.
Wu said the partnership is a great match.
“Goodwill and The Art Institute of Seattle have
a common goal: to prepare people for the
workforce. At the annual gala, we combine
efforts to create a show that accomplishes
several goals. It raises awareness and funding
for Goodwill’s workforce training program, and
it provides students from The Art Institute of
Seattle with the opportunity to showcase their
designs to the community, as well as produce an
incredible event.”
CULINARY STUDENTS TAKE THE CAKE
BY CREATING A LIFE-SIZE MASTERPIECE
FOR LOWRY PARK ZOO
In November 2011, Lowry Park Zoo in
Tampa hosted Zoofari, its annual fundraiser,
featuring the best of Tampa dining. Nearly
70 of Tampa Bay’s restaurants and beverage
distributors participated.
The cake was a big hit with all those who
attended Zoofari, as well as a great addition for
the zoo’s fundraiser. To top it off, the students
and faculty won the annual Zoofari “People’s
Choice” and “Best in Desserts” awards.
The zoo was also celebrating its 25th anniversary
and invited culinary students at The Art Institute
of Tampa, a branch of Miami International
University of Art & Design, to help put the “icing
on the cake” of the big celebration.
The students worked under the leadership of
culinary faculty members Chef Melissa Meyer,
Chef Ricardo Castro and Chef Rosana Rivera.
Students created a life-size animal-themed cake
that required 2,730 labor hours, 280 pounds of
butter cream, 380 pounds of sugar, 90 sheet
pans of cake and 27 student volunteers! The
animals and life-size cake drawings were made
out of sugar, fondant or Rice Krispies® covered
in gum paste.
Castro commented, “This cake was a huge
undertaking and a real labor of love. We were
proud and honored to be able to contribute this
amazing edible sculpture for the benefit of our
beloved zoo.”
DRIVING FOR THE ARTS
IN TENNESSEE
The newest specialty license plate for the
State of Tennessee is all about the arts — and
the design was created as a public service by
Leslie Haines, Graphic Design and Advertising
department chair of The Art Institute of
Tennessee—Nashville, a branch of The Art
Institute of Atlanta. The new plate is the result
of a statewide competition in which the people
of Tennessee chose the winning design from 10
finalist entries.
Haines conceded the design was a challenge.
“It’s a small space, you have all this stuff running
over your design, your design can’t distract from
the [license plate numbers] ... and how do you
distill the sense of art for the whole state into
one image?” she said. But she also admitted it
will be pretty cool to drive down the road and
see “her” license plate on so many cars!
“We are very proud of Leslie and are thrilled that
she is such a role model to our students; her
passion for the arts is contagious and it shows,”
Proceeds from fees for the new plate will
said Carol Menck, president of The Art Institute
directly benefit the arts in Tennessee with a
percentage of sales going to the Tennessee Arts of Tennessee—Nashville.
Commission, which distributes funds to arts
groups across the state.
SEASONED AND STUDENT CHEFS
SERVE UP A SPREAD TO SHOWCASE
THE FLAVORS OF TUCSON
Chefs and culinary students from The
of Tucson used their skills to raise money for
the American Liver Foundation’s eighth annual
Flavors of Tucson presented by University
Medical Center. The college’s chef instructors
served up a five-course meal featuring seared
tuna with a tempura quail egg and sake, yellow
tomatoes and Arizona goat cheese paired with
wine, seared scallops with chanterelles over
pasta paired with wine, sous-vide Kobe beef
and a foie gras crème brûlée, and four dessert
samplings served with Belgian beer.
Nationally recognized American Culinary
Federation Master Chef Bill Sy and local
American Culinary Federation board member
Chef Todd Eanes joined forces with 30 student
volunteers who worked alongside their chef
instructors and other certified chefs to prepare
decadent meals for benefit attendees.
The event was held at Loews Ventana Canyon
Resort in Tucson. The event raised more than
$91,000, and all proceeds went to the American
Liver Foundation — Desert Southwest Division.
GIVING THE GIFT
OF EDUCATION
As part of a local television station program
called the “5 Days of Christmas,” created to
help those in need leading up to the holidays,
The Art Institute of Vancouver contributed the
gift of a full tuition scholarship for its Culinary
Arts Level 1 Certificate program to a young lady
who aspired to be a chef, but never thought it
would become a reality.
The station worked with inner city schools
asking children to write out their Christmas
wishes. One wish came from a fourth-grader
who was cared for by an older sister, Princess
Sarnoh, who was only 21 years old. Princess
also took care of their younger brother and her
son, who was 2 years old. The family were
refugees from Libya and had lost all of their
possessions due to a flood in their home prior to
the holidays.
The young student had mentioned in her letter
that her older sister had a great desire to attend
culinary school. When approached by the station,
The Art Institute of Vancouver welcomed the
opportunity to assist this inspiring future chef
and awarded her the scholarship as a surprise
on live television.
“We were extremely pleased to participate in
this incredibly worthwhile initiative,” said The
Art Institute of Vancouver President Tom Kim.
STUDENTS HELP MAKE
FUNDRAISING EVENT A SUCCESS
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach, a branch of
The Art Institute of Atlanta, is not yet a large
campus, but the students there have big hearts.
When President Marilyn Burstein approached
Lisa Coleman, executive director of The King’s
Daughters, the organization that founded the
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters
in 1896, to ask how students could help, a
partnership was born.
The partnership’s first major project was the
KD Couture Fashion Show held at the Norfolk
Waterside Marriott on April 1, 2011. Students
from several different departments volunteered
their time and skills both behind the scenes
and with guests. Fashion & Retail Management
students worked with show producer, Trudy
Lancaster of Mannequin Productions, to ensure
that the models were dressed and ready for
the runway on time. Photographic imaging
students shot photos paparazzi-style on the red
carpet, as well as of the fashion extravaganza
on the runway. Culinary Arts students passed
hors d’oeuvres and served the guests from the
Marriott’s professional catering kitchens.
“The KD Couture Fashion Show was one of
our most exciting and unique events of 2011,”
Coleman said. “The show was an opportunity
for the whole community to come together
to support Children’s Hospital of The King’s
Daughters. We were thrilled to have the expert
support of so many students from The Art
Institute of Virginia Beach and look forward to
continuing our partnership with the college in
the future.”
STUDENTS AND NONPROFITS
TEAM UP FOR GOOD BY DESIGN
Nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC,
area received some much needed design work,
thanks to GOOD by DESIGN, a pro bono designa-thon sponsored by The BOSS Group and The
Art Institute of Washington, a branch of The Art
Institute of Atlanta. On Nov. 6, 2011, groups of
students from The Art Institute of Washington
teamed up with local creative arts professionals
and nonprofit groups. Each team had 10 hours
to complete projects ranging from a full website
redesign and the creation of Web banners and
social media skins to the complete design of a
corporate identity package and the creation of
brochures and posters.
The participating nonprofit organizations were
selected from an application process that
required them to submit project requests.
Some of the selected nonprofits included
Global Campus Africa, Animal Welfare
League of Alexandria, Center for International
Environmental Law and Women Who Build:
Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to
not only work for a real-world client, but also
to take their creativity and skills learned in the
classroom and use them to give back to the
community in a meaningful way,” said Anthony
Julien, Department Chair of Graphic Design
and Web Design & Interactive Media at The Art
Institute of Washington.
DESIGNING GOWNS FOR GOOD
Students from The Art Institute of Washington
—Dulles found a fashionable way to raise
money and awareness for breast cancer, while
showcasing their design talents, through the
“Pretty in Pink Design Competition.”
Arundel Mills Mall, along with the Miss America
Organization, partnered with the school and
challenged students to create gowns that
personify the iconic image, strength and beauty
of Miss America. In support of breast cancer
awareness, the students were also required
to feature an element of pink in each of their
designs. The students’ gowns were displayed at
Arundel Mills Mall, located in Hanover, Md., and
for a 25 cent donation, shoppers were able to
vote for their favorite design.
All proceeds from the competition were donated
to The Red Devils, a breast cancer support
organization that funds services to improve the
quality of life for breast cancer patients and their
families living in Maryland.
“This project was such a huge opportunity
for the students at The Art Institute of
Washington—Dulles. This was a chance for their
designs to be viewed by thousands of patrons
and key retailers, not to mention
Miss America 2011,” said Michelle Rappelt,
Fashion & Retail Management and Advertising
faculty member at The Art Institute of
Washington—Dulles.
posters, as well as slogans that communicate
their perceptions about root causes of crime and
violence. The interns also looked at what young
people can do about the crime and violence they
see around them every day.
Meghan Koven, the executive director of
ArtWorks, praised the collaboration. “Without
The Art Institute of Wisconsin, we would not
be able to offer these kinds of graphic design
programs to the youth we serve, because we
ARTWORKS AT THE
ART INSTITUTE OF WISCONSIN
The Art Institute of Wisconsin may be young,
but the school wasted no time getting involved
in the Milwaukee community. The college,
established in 2010, paired up with ArtWorks
for Milwaukee, Inc., a nonprofit that provides
paid, arts-based internships exclusively to
Milwaukee-area high school students who face
barriers to success.
The organization’s mission is to inspire local
teens to create positive change in their lives
and in their community by engaging them in
the arts, which empowers them to successfully
achieve their goals and believe in themselves;
teaching them life and career skills, which
makes them marketable and prepares them for
future success; and broadening the perspectives
of ArtWorks interns, which motivates them to
make a difference.
When ArtWorks attempted to incorporate media
arts into its repertoire of program offerings, The
Art Institute of Wisconsin had just the kind of
space and technology the nonprofit wanted for
its interns.
The interns learned Photoshop and basic graphic
design techniques during a series of visits to
the computer labs at the college. They worked
as a team to design anti-crime and anti-violence
just wouldn’t have access to these kinds
of facilities.”
And while the facilities are very important for the
interns, Koven believes there is another critical
component to the partnership. “It opens up a
whole world of new possibilities for our interns’
futures because they see students at the
college who are just like them and they think, ‘If
these kids can go to college, so can I.’”
HELPING CHILDREN GET A “LEG UP”
WITH A BARRIER-FREE PLAYGROUND
In the fall of 2011, Interior Design students at
The Art Institute of York—Pennsylvania helped
build a barrier-free playground for Leg Up Farm,
a nonprofit therapy center in York County, Pa.,
for children with disabilities and developmental
delays. Leg Up Farm received a grant to build a
barrier-free playground, and they reached out to
the community for volunteers to help bring the
project to life in just one week.
Despite an early winter storm that dropped
several inches of snow on the ground the day
before the build, the students enthusiastically
helped with all aspects of the construction from
heavy lifting to using power tools to painting
the finished product. After the project was
completed, the students had the opportunity to
revisit Leg Up Farm to reflect on their week and
write an analysis of the barrier-free design.
Students from the Human Factors class, which
studies barrier-free design, assisted with the
project. Prior to the build, the class visited
another local barrier-free playground to analyze
the facility.
From this project, the students gained a sense
of community pride in being a small part of a
large group volunteering their time for a worthy
cause. They also realized how gratifying it was
to be a part of a project of this nature.
MISSION POSSIBLE:
STUDENTS PUT SKILLS TO THE
TEST FOR INJURED WAR VETS
Injured veterans returning home from the
wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have plenty
of challenges to overcome. Interior Design
students at The Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago
didn’t think that navigating their homes should
be one of them. That’s why the college’s
American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
chapter decided to take on a project to redesign
the interior of Army Sgt. Cameron Crouch’s
home in Mahomet, Ill.
“People with disabilities have special challenges
inside their homes that builders may not account
for,” said Carol Cisco, a member of the college’s
ASID chapter who headed up this project. “A
person in a wheelchair or even on crutches may
not be able to maneuver around a room easily,
even if it looks spacious to the naked eye.”
Crouch was severely injured while deployed
in Iraq in August 2007. He required nearly 20
surgeries, including the amputation of both legs
below the knee. After many hospitalizations,
Crouch and his wife returned to Illinois. Even
though Crouch’s home was built to ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act) standards,
because the interiors were not designed
specifically for him, he soon found many
obstacles inside. So the Interior Design students
from The Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago sat
down with Crouch and his wife and began
designing a master bedroom and master bath
that would fit the couple’s needs as well as
their style.
our life a lot easier and less stressful, that’s
honestly, I think, the main focus. The [designs]
that Carol has shown us are going to help an
unbelievable amount.”
When their new bedroom and bathroom is
complete, Crouch will be able to get in and out
of bed more easily, maneuver throughout the
bedroom without hitting his legs on the furniture
and have easier access to his bathroom. The
new bathroom cabinetry provides plenty of
storage for his medical supplies.
Cisco said even though the Crouches are
grateful for the work she and her fellow Interior
Design students put into this project, it does
not compare to the gratitude the ASID chapter
feels. “We get to put the skills learned in the
classroom to good use. Sgt. Crouch and so
many other service members put their lives on
the line for us. That’s not a debt we’ll ever be
able to repay.”
When asked about the design solutions
proposed by the students, Crouch said, “I
don’t want to say if you don’t do this, our life
is going to be miserable, but as far as making
community and raffle tickets sold at the studentproduced fashion show helped the students
reach their monetary target. Following the
fashion showcase, the team presented Stepping
Stones of Roselle with a check on behalf of The
Illinois Institute of Art—Schaumburg.
“This type of fashion show typically requires a
dedicated, full-time team of 30 individuals six
STUDENTS STEP UP
TO SUPPORT LOCAL VICTIMS
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
When challenged to produce a fashion show
in nine weeks, the 14 women of The Illinois
Institute of Art—Schaumburg’s Event Planning
& Promotion class had no idea they would also
raise more than $13,000 for a local nonprofit
organization in that time. In between finalizing
details for models and the runway, the students
coordinated fundraising efforts for their
beneficiary, Stepping Stones of Roselle.
The mission of Stepping Stones is to empower
women who are victims of domestic violence to
develop financial and emotional independence
by providing them with a safe, nurturing
environment. The organization has provided
shelter for 33 families to date and is currently
assisting six others. Upon hearing the yearly
programmatic cost to support a family (an
estimated $12,000), the Event Planning &
Promotion class took the initiative to provide
the organization with the opportunity to fund
an additional household. To their surprise, the
team managed to raise $9,000 prior to the event
and more than $4,000 on March 8, 2012, at the
“Pulse Fashion Show: Raw Beauty,” ultimately
surpassing their goal by almost 10 percent.
Advertising space sales, baking events, VIP
and general admission tickets, a pre-event
silent auction of donations collected from the
months to produce,” said Marci Watkins, Event
Planning & Promotions instructor at The Illinois
Institute of Art—Schaumburg. “Our team of 14
students not only put on a high caliber show for
an audience of more than 700 attendees in a
quarter of that time, but they also exemplified
the show’s theme of strength as they overcame
countless obstacles to achieve their educational
and philanthropic goals.”
KEEPING KIDS WARM
FOR THE WINTER
When the temperatures drop, most of us get
our heaviest winter coats out of the closet,
knowing we’ll be relatively warm and dry out in
the elements. But not everyone has that luxury.
That’s why Kathleen Enright, a foundations
instructor at The Illinois Institute of Art—Tinley
Park decided to gather up coats and hats for kids
at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Will and
Grundy Counties this winter.
Faculty, staff and the 150 students at the college
had only two weeks to gather cold weather gear
for the donation drive. What they came up with
amazed both Enright and the staff at BBBS. The
campus pulled together to collect 58 coats, 15
pairs of gloves, 14 hats and five scarves.
“It was awesome. I couldn’t believe how much
we brought in,” Enright said. And in the midst
of all those coats and scarves, she also found
an envelope marked for the coat drive. “When I
saw that $100 bill inside, it just brought a tear to
my eye.”
Lisa Morel Las, the chief executive officer of
the BBBS chapter, added, “We are so grateful
to everyone who donated warm winter coats
and accessories for the kids we serve. It’s
heartwarming to watch the children’s eyes
light up with excitement when they get to pick
out a new coat in their favorite color or style.
I sincerely thank everyone for helping those less
fortunate.” The Illinois Institute of Art—Tinley
Park plans to run the coat drive again next winter.
“I am proud that the university has fostered a
“HIV/AIDS is a very important topic to discuss
partnership with Miami Beach Community Health and it is wonderful that there is a way to
Center’s ‘Through the Eyes of Love’ exhibition,”
artistically create awareness and express
Erika Fleming, president of Miami International
support for those who have been touched by
the disease.”
University of Art & Design, said.
STUDENTS LOOK THROUGH
THE EYES OF LOVE AND ART
TO HONOR WORLD AIDS DAY
For the second year, the Miami Beach
Community Health Center (MBCHC) partnered
with the students and faculty of Miami
International University of Art & Design to
present a juried art exhibition, which focused on
World AIDS Day in November.
The “Through the Eyes of Love” exhibit included
a diverse display of paintings, drawings and
sculptures, all symbolizing the depth of local
Miami artists’ thoughts and feelings about HIV/
AIDS. Artists whose works were showcased
included Alejandro Cuadra, Ali Miranda, Janet
Muller, Noah Jones, Jonathan Brooks, Marco
Gonzalez and others, many of whom are living
with HIV or AIDS.
The exhibition included selected works by
esteemed artist Barry Gross, whose work
focuses on positive experiences in both the
outer and inner worlds of the disease. Gross
has exhibited in leading galleries throughout
the country, including Ceasarea Gallery in Boca
Raton, Fla., the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn,
N.Y., and the Atlanta History Center and
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, both
in Atlanta. His work can also be found in many
private collections.
The exhibition also included elegant fashions
created by Fashion Design students for the
occasion. The glamorous gowns, all in vivid red,
were inspired by the red ribbons that symbolize
the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Common Walk ecoArts Show is part of
Brookline Climate Week’s Eco Arts and Science
Walking Tour. Brookline Climate Week is an
initiative of CCAB, a group of volunteer activists
whose mission is to connect Brookline citizens
to the ways they can reduce their carbon
footprint at home, at work and in the community,
evolving Brookline from an energy-consuming
community to an energy-conserving community.
CREATIVITY LEADS TO
ECO-FRIENDLY EDUCATION
What does 365 days of trash look like? The New
England Institute of Art community had the
opportunity to find out during its Common Walk
ecoArts Show in January 2012.
As part of Brookline Climate Week, eight artists
used humor, beauty and scientific data to
creatively interpret the world around them,
while sharing a common thread of
environmental concern. In cooperation with
the community group Climate Change Action
Brookline (CCAB), The New England Institute
of Art sponsored award-winning photographer,
videographer and installationist Tim Gaudreau
as Artist in Residence.
Gaudreau created an installation on campus
based on his “Self Portrait: 365 Days of
Considered Consumption,” with help from
students at The New England Institute of Art
and Brookline Public Schools. The installation
included a sampling of more than 20,000
photographs of everything he threw away for
a year, along with journal entries, graphs and
photographs that represented Gaudreau’s
personal carbon footprint.
“Education is the beginning of change. The New
England Institute of Art was proud to be a part of
2012 Climate Week by inviting eight eco-artists
to share their work with the college community
and the Brookline public school students,” said
Coni Porter, Gallery Coordinator and Graphic
Design instructor at The New England Institute
of Art. “Historically, art has been a powerful
instigator of cultural shifts. These artists are
part of this expanding ecological movement in
contemporary art.”
A L U M N I F E AT U R E
DISCOVERING THE ART OF HELPING OTHERS
Rachel Tiep-Daniels, a 1999 graduate of The
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale who earned her
Bachelor of Science in Media Arts & Animation,
co-founded the Picture Book Project Foundation
to support orphaned and disadvantaged children.
The organization “gives parents, artists, and art
enthusiasts a way to help and inspire children in
need,” she said.
Tiep-Daniels — who as a visual development
artist for Blue Sky Studios has worked on
movies including “Rio,” “Kung Fu Panda,”
“Monsters vs. Aliens” and “Ice Age” — was
moved to start the foundation after volunteering
with children in Ghana. There, she taught math
and English to the students, but found a true
connection with them through art. When she
returned to the United States, she partnered
with friend and co-worker Margaret Wuller to
develop the Picture Book Project Coloring Book,
which eventually evolved into The Picture Book
Project Foundation.
Helping to fulfill the goal of “bringing art
and animation to the hands of children for
their enjoyment and to encourage creativity,
motivation and education,” Tiep-Daniels helped
to organize 2011’s “Art Blocks for Ghana” to
support the Hopkins Foundation. More than 200
animation artists created art blocks that were
auctioned to the public following gallery events
in Los Angeles and New York City. “Our goal
was to raise money to provide 13 of the children
(orphans) in Ghana’s Save Widows and Orphans
Development Center with boarding and tuition,”
she said. The event was a huge success, raising
$55,000 for the cause.
“It’s amazing how one idea can create change,”
Tiep-Daniels stated, adding that as she
discussed her ideas with others, she discovered
more people willing to step up and help.
ATLANTA
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, ATLANTA
PROFESSOR DEDICATED TO THE CARE OF
PATIENTS WITH, AND CURE OF, LUPUS
Argosy University, Atlanta Associate Professor
Dr. Adair White-Johnson has suffered from lupus
for more than 20 years. Each year, she joins the
cause against lupus by participating in Atlanta’s
Walk for Lupus Now. Taking place for the sixth
year in 2012, the Atlanta walk is the largest in
the nation with more than 5,000 participants
raising essential funds for the Georgia Chapter
of the Lupus Foundation of America.
White-Johnson, who was named one of the
2012 Faces of Hope for the sixth annual Walk
for Lupus Now, led a team of family and friends
walking at the event, and she was featured in
the collateral for the 2012 event.
“We are so honored and inspired by Adair’s
courage and determination. Adair is the
mother of five children and gives so much to
so many,” said Maria Myler, president and CEO
of The Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia
Chapter, Inc.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the
nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health
organization dedicated to finding the causes of
and cure for lupus and providing support and
services to all people affected by lupus. It is the
oldest and largest national nonprofit voluntary
health organization focused on improving the
quality of life for people with lupus. Their unique
dual mission serves the ongoing needs of
people affected by lupus today while leading
efforts to find a cure — from care to cure.
Ninety percent of every dollar donated for the
event stays in Georgia to ensure the local
chapter continues to provide and expand
valuable free educational programs and
advocacy and awareness efforts, including
nine symposiums and programs and new
support groups in new communities across
Georgia. The group also supports the national
research efforts funding and advocating for
investment in lupus, and aims to continue to
be a lifeline for patients and a voice increasing
lupus awareness with billboards on our
highways, public service announcements and
a growing number of events.
“Ten years ago, no one spoke of lupus; there
was little awareness and understanding of the
signs and symptoms and very little investment
in research. No one and no organ is safe. Lupus
affects men, women and children and is a
significant, life-diminishing and life-threatening
disease that can cause significant damage to
the body, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and
brain, as well as skin and joints, at any time,”
said Myler.
from all over the country who climbed in honor
of the fallen by cheering on the climbers at the
event, providing water and snacks, and assisting
with other event duties.
CHICAGO
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO STUDENTS
HELP HONOR FIREFIGHTERS
OF 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS
Sept. 11, 2011, marked the anniversary of the
terrorist attacks that brought down the Twin
Towers in New York City. On that day, 343
firefighters and other first responders lost their
lives as a result of those attacks and, 10 years
later, the city of Chicago set out to pay tribute
to the fallen and raise funds for their families.
Argosy University, Chicago was there to help
with volunteers for the event.
A 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was organized at
the Aon building in downtown Chicago, where
firefighters from all over the Midwest, together
with other emergency personnel and their
families, would climb the 80 floors in honor of
their fallen brethren. This included a group of
firefighters who biked from Missouri to Chicago.
Each participant in the climb wore a bib marked
with the name, photograph and engine number
of each of the first responders who died. The
climb began at 9:11 a.m.
Registration costs and individual pledges were
donated to the National Fallen Firefighters
Foundation, which helps the families of those
who have fallen in the line of duty.
Led by the campus Student Government
Association, a group of Argosy University,
Chicago students and employees served as
volunteers at the event. “It was wonderful to
see a group of people that don’t usually have a
lot of interaction at such a large campus come
together and rally around the cause,” said
Student Government Association President and
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
student Jessica Plonka. Students and staff
shared the pain and the pride of first responders
“This gave us the opportunity to reflect together
about how the events of 9/11 impacted our lives.
So much of our time is spent inside our own
heads, in our studies and in our own worlds,”
said Plonka. “This was a humbling reminder
about how much larger life and the world are
and can be.”
DALLAS
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, DALLAS
ALUMNA MAKING A DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF INFANTS
More than 5,500 lives of fragile infants and
their families have been impacted by Argosy
University, Dallas alumna Dr. Elizabeth Heyne
through the nonprofit organization the Low Birth
Weight Development Center (LBWDC). A 2010
graduate of the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical
Psychology program at the campus, Heyne,
PA-C, PsyD, IMHE (IV) and her husband, Dr. Roy
Heyne, both specialists in the field of low birth
weight pediatrics, founded the agency in 1992.
The mission of the Low Birth Weight
Development Center is to respond to the needs
of families having or who are at risk of having
a low birth weight infant by providing familycentered, community-oriented support services
such as Early Head Start, Teen Parenting
Assistance, and Infant Mental Health and
Research. LBWDC is a unique, multifaceted,
comprehensive program designed to meet the
complex needs of high-risk, low birth weight
infants, from birth to age 3, and their young,
low-income parents. LBWDC is the only agency
of its kind in the United States.
In Texas, more than 5,000 very low birth weight
babies are born each year. Most of these babies
can spend three months or more in a neonatal
intensive care unit prior to being discharged, and
they need additional care to ensure they thrive
once they go home. The infants served at the
Low Birth Weight Development Center are born
as early as 24 weeks gestational age (full-term
infants are 40 weeks) and with very low
birth weight (less than 1500 grams or
approximately 3.5 lbs).
and outreach at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
at Parkland Memorial Hospital.”
These infants are at high risk for long-term
health problems, including cerebral palsy,
respiratory distress, chronic lung disease, and
vision and hearing problems, as well as learning
disabilities and developmental delays.
Heyne is a longtime community advocate and
volunteer, having set up the first infant car
seat loan program at Children’s Medical Center
Dallas and having worked with the Bishop of the
Catholic Diocese of Dallas to recruit Missionary
Sisters of Charity with Mother Teresa of
Calcutta to set up homes for needy mothers.
She has received numerous commendations
for her work, including letters of commendation
from Presidents George W. Bush and Bill
Clinton and the T. Berry Brazelton Infant Mental
Health Advocacy Award.
“The first three years in follow-up care is crucial
for these babies,” said Heyne. “Intervention
and support in these early years can improve
their long-term outcomes and reduce the risks
for lifelong disabilities. The Low Birth Weight
Development Center assists 350 families
annually through onsite services, home visits
DENVER
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, DENVER
STUDENT DEDICATED TO HELPING
TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
Argosy University, Denver Doctor of Psychology
in Clinical Psychology student Stephanie
Ignatavicius has dedicated her time and
professional pursuits to helping meet the mental
health needs of the transgender community.
Ignatavicius volunteers her time and talents to
meet the needs of clients at the Gender Identity
Center of Colorado. She has been involved with
the organization since 2010.
The Gender Identity Center provides support
to those who are, or think they may be,
transgender and to the significant others (wives/
husbands, boy/girlfriends, family members, etc.)
of transgender individuals.
low-cost counseling services, hormone referral
letters, resource referrals, support groups, open
hours, social events, speaker’s bureau and
volunteer opportunities for everyone.
Low-cost counseling services and helping
meet the mental health needs of clients is
where Ignatavicius feels most impactful with
the group. In addition to conducting volunteer
clinical work at the center, she has assisted in
building the foundation for the clinical program
for the agency and its clients. “I am responsible
for creating the program, making forms, doing
needed outreach, seeing clients and training
others to do clinical work at the site,” she said.
A variety of resources are available at the Gender “The services we provide are really transitionrelated services,” said Ignatavicius. “Those
Identity Center, including reading materials, free
who wish to undergo a sex change operation
computer access, free WiFi, beverages, snacks,
must undergo assessment and/or therapy and
have a letter of support from a mental health
practitioner before they can begin hormone
therapy. This is a community that is oftentimes
financially challenged and who must pay out of
pocket for all of the medical needs associated
with a sex change operation, so services like
ours, offered on a sliding scale, are critical to
helping them realize their dreams.”
“The transgender community has been
historically mistreated by mental health
professionals,” said Ignatavicius. “Until the
1980s, homosexuality was treated as a mental
disorder. Today, many still incorrectly treat
transgender individuals as having a disorder, and
so, for them, finding the right professional to
meet their needs can be incredibly challenging.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to work with this
community,” she said. “The staff and clients
at the Gender Identity Center let me into their
world and have accepted me as part of their
group. Given that many in this population are
at high risk for verbal, physical and sexual
assault and that many of those who suffer this
type of trauma do so without any support, it is
an accomplishment to be considered one of
the group.”
Dr. Karen Scarpella, program director for the
Gender Identity Center of Colorado, said “As
the program director, I have been very grateful
for the level of competent support to our agency
and programming by Stephanie Ignatavicius.
It is her investment of time and talent that
forwarded our mission, at an exponential pace,
ahead of expected progress. As a director, it
has been incredibly helpful to have such a
responsible volunteer to rely on so that I can
focus on many other duties in growing our
programming. Ms. Ignatavicius is reliable,
unassuming and gracious in her work at our
agency. No task is too small, nor any project too
big for her to do. She often sees what needs to
be done and simply takes it on. A volunteer with
this level of commitment, attention to detail and
autonomy is every director’s dream! Her mark
and legacy have been left on our agency and
its mission.”
HAWAII
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, HAWAII
JOINS FIGHT AGAINST AIDS
Argosy University, Hawaii joined the fight
against AIDS this past year with participation in
the 20th anniversary Honolulu AIDS Walk. The
AIDS Walk, held each year at Kapi’olani Park, is
organized and executed by the Life Foundation
as a means of generating revenue to support
its HIV-related programs. In all, 20 members of
the Honolulu campus walked to raise funds to
support the organization.
Life Foundation was established in 1983 as the
first response to AIDS in Hawaii and the Pacific.
Nearly 30 years later, it remains the largest
provider of HIV-related care and prevention
services in the islands, serving the island
of Oahu, the location of Honolulu and threequarters of the state’s people.
Currently, about 60 percent of all HIV-positive
men, women and children receiving case
management assistance in Hawaii are helped
by the Life Foundation’s client services program.
The more than 700 current clients represent
just about every racial and ethnic group in the
nation’s most diverse state.
In addition to the level of case management
required by their individual situations, Life
Foundation clients also benefit from a meals
program, emergency groceries, handson services of volunteer home assistance
“buddies,” and financial assistance to help with
housing, utilities and health-related costs. In
recent years, a substantial portion of these
assistance funds (more than $250,000) has been
used to pay for critical dental care.
The Life Foundation also provides an HIV
clinical nurse and a treatment advocate to help
its clients understand and manage the many
challenging side effects of the highly toxic but
lifesaving AIDS medications.
Life Foundation’s HIV prevention program
is entirely peer-to-peer based and works
exclusively on an outreach basis to the
people who are most at risk for HIV infection.
These include young gay men (especially
native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders),
transgendered people and women who are
involved in the sex industry or in abusive
relationships with IV-drug-using men. Life
Foundation offers free HIV testing with results
in 15 minutes.
“We are honored to join the fight against AIDS
in Hawaii,” said Kristy Watters, vice president
of the Student Government Association and
current student in the Doctor of Psychology in
Clinical Psychology program, who organized
Argosy University, Hawaii’s participation in the
event. “It was the opportunity to bring our
campus community together to rally around a
cause that has a significant impact on society.”
professional expertise to help meet the mental
health needs of these groups.”
INLAND EMPIRE
COUNSELORS ON WHEELS AT ARGOSY
UNIVERSITY, INLAND EMPIRE DEDICATED TO
COMBATING CHILD EXPLOITATION
Argosy University, Inland Empire students
banded together under the academic leadership
in 2011 to help form Counselors on Wheels,
a student organization dedicated to meeting
the mental health needs of the Inland Empire
community where its students live, work and
attend school.
residents of Yucaipa, Calif., by the group’s 20
practicum student members.
The group is open to all counseling students
on the campus and is currently dedicated to
the task of combating child exploitation in San
Bernardino County.
Argosy University, Inland Empire Program
Chair Dr. Akin Merino had the vision to start
a counseling organization for students at the
campus. With the assistance of the campus
director of clinical training, Dr. Brenda Navarrete,
Counselor on Wheels was created. The
initial Counselors on Wheels project,“Open
Clinic,” offered free counseling sessions to the
“As students who have opted to pursue helping
professions, we have a high level of dedication
to our field and to the communities around us,”
said Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
student Alyssa Ogden. “In areas like San
Bernardino County, there is a lack of access
to mental health services for lower income
populations. Our goal is to give our time and
The group is pursuing training that would
allow them to go out into the community to
do presentations to raise awareness about the
issue of child exploitation, something for which
every child can be at risk, according to Ogden.
Per the San Bernardino Coalition Against Sexual
Exploitation, the average age of entry into the
commercial sex industry in the United States
is 12 years old. According to the group, one in
three teens will be recruited by a pimp within
48 to 72 hours of running away from home and
becoming homeless.
“This is a major issue for minors in San
Bernardino County,” said Ogden. “We want
to help teach families how to communicate
with their child about this topic, how to create
a safe and comfortable environment for them
to be honest, what the warning signs are for
trafficking and how to spot them in your child.”
LOS ANGELES
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
STUDENTS COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE
Argosy University, Los Angeles Master of
Arts in Forensic Psychology students Carlos
Alvarez and Daisy Gomez take their education
to the streets daily as they work to help turn
around the lives of at-risk youth in South and
Southeast Los Angeles. The pair, who grew
up in the area, know firsthand the impact that
gangs and violence can have on the lives of their
community and are working to change it, one
person at a time.
Los Angeles and walk the areas most impacted
by gang violence,” said Alvarez. According
to Gomez,“Our clients are word-of-mouth
referrals. Our goal is to develop a relationship
with the community and the people in it — to
develop accountability to the community and to
the client.” Referrals also come from the Los
Angeles Unified School District, from the Los
Angeles County Probation Office and from other
local agencies.
Alvarez and Gomez work as pro bono advocates
and interventionists for youths ages 16 to 23
who are part of the Los Angeles court and
prison system and have connections to gangs
and gang violence. “We canvas the streets of
Alvarez, now an accomplished bodybuilder and
Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology student
at Argosy University, Los Angeles, grew up
in a gang. “Domestic violence was the norm
in my house growing up and that mental and
emotional trauma helped drive me toward
gang life. That all changed with one person,
Mrs. Carroll, a teacher in school who served as
my mentor and the driving force to guide me to
turn my life around. By age 19, I turned my love
of fighting in the gang to a love of body building
and opened my own nutritional store. That’s
the kind of change we are looking to make
with our clients.”
“In addition to forensic case management, we
mentor our clients and help them navigate the
judicial system. We become that individual’s
go-to person, working to combat those issues
that can lead them back to jail, conducting risk
assessments in the home and helping steer the
individual and their family toward the resources
that can help them combat those stressors. The
mission is to steer them to exit both gang and
criminal life,” said Alvarez.
Gomez, who grew up in South Central Los
Angeles, draws her inspiration to change others
from her background, as well. Gomez also grew
up with gangs as a central part of life. “It was
the norm,” she said. At age 15, gang violence
hit home when her sister was killed by her gang
member boyfriend. “I always wanted to know
whether something could have been done with
him to prevent this,” said Gomez. “Through
education, I found that violent life and gangs
were not the norm and did not have to be reality.
Carlos and I work to serve those who are not
being served and to show that gang life is not
the only life these young people can lead. If we
prevent at least one innocent person from being
stuck in the crossfire, our work is worth it.”
The two collaborate with organizations such as
A Better LA and the Chuco’s Justice Center to
help meet the needs of at-risk populations in the
community. “We know these young people are
wired for struggle,” commented Alvarez.
Gomez said,“Our job is to demonstrate that
advocacy, knowledge of the system and
knowledge of the human psyche can make a
difference in the community and in the lives of
these young people.”
NASHVILLE
“The mission of Flight School is to provide a safe
Christ-centered environment for adolescents
who want to get help in a world of distress and
decisions — a place where they can build a
foundation of faith, hope and love to rise above
the obstacles in their lives,” said Berkes.
The group provides a supportive and challenging
environment that encourages the physical,
mental and spiritual growth of adolescents in
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS
GIVES YOUTH A HOPE AND A FUTURE
Argosy University alumnus Paul Berkes is
making a difference for youth in his community
with the nonprofit organization A Hope and a
Future. Berkes, a 2009 graduate of the Master
of Arts in Professional Counseling program
at the Nashville campus, founded the group,
which seeks to “give wings to weary hearts and
minds” through a program called Flight School.
“We believe that life works best when we live
it together. A Hope and a Future addresses the
importance of building relationships that soar
above the negative experiences in our past,”
said Berkes.
The group is dedicated to tackling the tough
issues surrounding teen suicide and to giving
struggling youth a purpose through music.
Berkes, who at the age of 11 struggled with
thoughts of suicide and family issues, found
respite and hope from his involvement in a
church play in which he participated. During
that experience, he learned to play piano and
guitar and found a group of people willing
to accept him for who he was and help him
realize his worth. Berkes went on to receive a
bachelor’s degree in music from the University
of Memphis and has paired his love of music
with his passion for helping others with his
advanced degree in counseling.
the following interdisciplinary areas: expressive
arts, academic enrichment and physical
education. The program focuses on
life skills, academics and expressive arts for
students in first grade through high school who
participate. In the program, students
learn to communicate better, improve
interpersonal skills, develop conflict resolution
strategies, get help with academic issues and
pursue music.
ONLINE PROGRAMS
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, ONLINE PROGRAMS
STUDENT FOUNDS NONPROFIT
AFTER TUCSON TRAGEDY
On Jan. 8, 2011, Argosy University, Online
Programs student Jenny Hileman’s life changed
forever. Hileman, a student in the Master of Arts
in Education in Educational Leadership program,
received word that her mother, Suzi Hileman,
had been shot. Mrs. Hileman, along with U.S.
Representative Gabrielle Giffords and 17 other
people, was gunned down during a “Congress
on Your Corner” public meeting held in a
supermarket parking lot in Tucson, Ariz.
Mrs. Hileman’s companion that day, 9-year-old
Christina-Taylor Green, was one of six people
who did not survive the tragedy. Mrs. Hileman
and her husband, Bill, both retired, met Christina
and her brother, Dallas, when the Green family
moved into the same Tucson neighborhood. The
couple immediately took to the two children.
When Christina was elected to the student
council at her elementary school, Mrs. Hileman
wanted to further her interest in public service,
and the two set a date for the “Congress on
Your Corner” event.
Today, Ms. Hileman and her mother are
honoring the bond between the Green and
Hileman families with the nonprofit organization
Grandparents in Residence (GRIN). GRIN was
designed as an inter-generational mentoring
program whose mission is to promote, support,
and create opportunities for interactions
between those who have time and those
who have need. Ms. Hileman, who lives in
Chicago, handles the organization, logistics and
administrative aspects of the agency while her
mother runs the day-to-day operation.
“GRIN’s mission is to bring together those
with talent and those with the desire to learn,”
said Ms. Hileman. “GRIN has photographers,
paper crafters, storybook readers and mentors
available daily and/or monthly, even annually
for special events, that volunteer their talents
with partnering schools. The volunteer base
is growing every day.” GRIN offers training to
ensure that quality interactions take place in a
safe and thoughtful environment. Volunteers are
certified and receive identifying credentials such
as CPR and Basic First Aid classes.
ORANGE COUNTY
Casa de la Familia provides services in Los
Angeles and Orange counties and works
closely with city, county and state Social
Service agencies, police departments, victims’
advocates and community service programs.
Senior Director of Admissions for Argosy
University, Orange County Leisa Ruiz said,
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, ORANGE COUNTY
HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE BENEFITS
LATINO CHILDREN IN NEED
Argosy University, Orange County helped make
holiday wishes come true for children in need
with a winter toy drive that benefitted clients of
the nonprofit organization Casa de la Familia.
Casa de la Familia was established to address
and serve the emotional needs of children,
teens, adults and the elderly who have suffered
a psychological trauma — in a compassionate,
ethical and professional manner. The primary
focus for the services the agency provides
is to the underserved and underrepresented
minority populations, with a special emphasis on
providing bicultural and bilingual psychological
treatment, education and outreach to the
Latino community.
The majority of the agency’s professional, caring
therapists are bicultural, bilingual and Spanishspeaking. The group specializes in the treatment
of post-traumatic, anxiety and depressive
disorders of children, adolescents, adults and
elderly and human trafficking victims, providing
crisis intervention and long-term individual and
family therapy. The organization also provides
home visits on an as-needed basis.
“Casa de la Familia has served as a meaningful
practicum site for our students at Argosy
University, Orange County. Hosting this toy drive
to help ensure better holidays for the agency’s
clients was one of the many ways we hope to
partner with the agency in the future.”
PHOENIX
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, PHOENIX TAKES
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FROM THE
CLASSROOM TO THE COMMUNITY
Argosy University, Phoenix students took their
geropsychology course from the classroom to
the community at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Parish in Anthem under the direction of Argosy
University, Phoenix Associate Professor Gina
Touch Mercer. Through this unique partnership,
Mercer arranged for students to conduct
cognitive tests for a group of older parishioners
who had concerns about memory loss.
Eight students participated in the course
assignment/community service initiative. Prior to
the project beginning, Mercer and the students
offered talks at the church on memory loss
and on the normal signs of aging as compared
to the symptoms of dementia. From there,
members of the parish who were interested
in participating scheduled an individual intake
session with Mercer and the students.
In addition to speaking with the participant and
family members during the intake process, each
student conducted a one-hour assessment
of the participant’s cognition and mood. With
participants’ signed consent, students reviewed
participants’ medical records and contacted
their physicians and mental health professionals,
when appropriate, to help with the diagnosis
process. “Students looked at each client
holistically to help determine the cause of their
memory issues,” said Mercer.
said Mercer. “Recommendations for follow-up
After the assessments for each client were
were made with respect to personal religious,
completed, students prepared a written report
racial and ethnic diversity.”
for both a final grade and for presentation to
the client. This final consult with each individual
The process provided participants with
lasted more than an hour and was a true
information about the normal aging process
intervention. “All but one participant’s memory
and the effect that issues such as anxiety and
issues were related to depression or anxiety
depression can have on a person’s memory.
rather than to an illness like dementia,” said
“The project gave students the opportunity to
Mercer. “These evaluations gave participants a
sense of relief they wouldn’t otherwise have felt be exposed to the typical types of issues and
concerns they will address in working with
about their memory loss. Most of the cognitive
older adults as they become practitioners,”
issues students found were reversible or
said Mercer. “They found that many of the
treatable.” Through this process, students were
issues they experienced with this population
able to make recommendations based on their
were applicable to other age groups and were
assessments and determine appropriate followthings they will commonly see in any type of
up care for participants.
professional setting as they move forward in
their careers.”
“There was a diverse approach that the
parishioners who participated greatly valued,”
SALT LAKE CITY
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SALT LAKE CITY
HELPS BRINGS HOLIDAY CHEER
TO LOCAL AFRICAN REFUGEE FAMILY
Argosy University, Salt Lake City brought holiday
cheer during the holiday season by “adopting”
a family in need. The campus sponsored a
local refugee family from Africa through a local
organization dedicated to advancing the AfricanAmerican business community in Utah.
The campus learned about the family from
African-Americans Advancing in Commerce
Community Education & Leadership (ACCEL),
a black chamber organization new to the state
of Utah. Established in the winter of 2009,
the organization was founded by a part-time
business owner who saw a need to build an
environment where the black community could
come together on a regular basis to network
and exchange business ideas. The group
partnered with United Africans of Utah to
connect local businesses with families in critical
need of their help.
As a result, Argosy University, Salt Lake City
came to know their local “adopted” family,
comprised of a single mother, the elderly mother
whom she cares for and her own three teenage
children. Argosy University, Salt Lake City placed
Gifts were wrapped and ready to deliver to the
wishes and needs from the refugee family on
family on Dec. 17, just in time for the holidays.
paper snowflakes hung from a tree on campus.
Employees and students selected the items
“It was an honor to be able to help, in however
they wished to purchase from the family’s
small a way, a family that has been through so
requests. Requested items included cleaning
much,” said Campus President David Tietjen.
supplies, laundry and dish soap, bathroom items, “Their ‘wish’ items were basic necessities
winter clothes, hygiene items and bedding.
needed for survival — things many of us can
sometimes take for granted.”
SAN DIEGO
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SAN DIEGO
PROVIDES SUPPLIES TO MENTAL
HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Argosy University, San Diego held a school
supplies drive to benefit the William R. Mead
Training Academy in 2011. The drive was part
of a partnership developed with nonprofit
agency Mental Health Systems, which operates
the school.
The William R. Mead Training Academy is a
service of Mental Health Systems and is a
school for counselors. It provides courses in
addiction counseling that meets the California
Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
(DADP) requirements for certification in drug
and alcohol counseling. Those who complete
the program can then pursue certification as a
substance abuse counselor with most certifying
agencies in California.
Mental Health Systems is a nonprofit agency
founded in 1978 to improve the lives of
individuals, families and communities facing
substance abuse and behavioral health
challenges. The organization provides
affordable mental health and drug and alcohol
rehabilitation services.
Argosy University, San Diego’s partnership
extends beyond providing supplies for the
academy. The campus has developed an
articulation agreement with Mental Health
Systems that allows graduates of the William
R. Mead Academy to transfer credits earned
in their program of study into psychology or
criminal justice degree programs at Argosy
University, San Diego.
“The William R. Mead Academy is dedicated to
meeting the need for qualified counselors to
help battle substance abuse and addiction.
We are honored to work with them to help
meet the goals of their students and to assist
with the other services provided by Mental
Health Systems,” said Campus President
Deborah Markos.
partner families at no profit and are financed
with affordable, zero-interest mortgages.
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA EMPLOYEES HELP
BUILD FUTURES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area
employees came together to help local families
in need through a volunteer day in collaboration
with Habitat for Humanity’s East Bay Chapter in
2011. Led by campus Counseling Psychology
Training Director and long-time Habitat for
Humanity volunteer Dr. Heather Martarella, a
group of employees came together for the
second year in a row to work on a home for a
deserving family in need.
“The home we worked on was a house Habitat
for Humanity had reclaimed in East Oakland,”
said Martarella. “The abandoned property had
squatters living in it for a year, and our challenge
was to help Habitat for Humanity remodel the
house to make it a home for a local family
in need.”
Habitat for Humanity East Bay is a local affiliate
of Habitat for Humanity International that
partners with hardworking families, community
volunteers and donors to build affordable
ownership homes in Alameda and Contra Costa
counties in California.
Through the Habitat for Humanity program,
families working in service, manufacturing,
retail and other sectors are able to live near their
jobs in decent, safe and permanent homes. In
20 years, the organization helped more than 300
in the community.
Through the program, homeowners invest 500
hours of “sweat equity” to help build their
own homes, as well as additional time for
homeowner workshops. Houses are sold to
“It is our campus plan to continue to volunteer
each year,” said Martarella. “It is an incredible
way to give back to the community and to see,
physically, the impact that your service can
have. Working together as a campus gives us
the opportunity to get to know each other better
inside and outside of the office and to build a
camaraderie we don’t always otherwise have
the opportunity to build.”
for distribution and behavior studies. In addition,
she monitors two dozen physical conditions on
each animal for field veterinary studies.
SARASOTA
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SARASOTA
PROFESSOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE
WITH DOLPHIN RESEARCH
Argosy University, Sarasota Program Chair of
Research Dr. Ann Weaver brings unique realworld experience to her statistics students as
St. Petersburg’s “Dolphin Lady.” Weaver, an
animal behaviorist (ethologist), studies freeranging dolphins at sea under a federal permit
with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. The purpose of her intensive
study is to investigate the potential impact of
coastal construction as an anthropogenic
threat to dolphin populations off St. Petersburg’s
west coast.
Weaver is in the eighth year of the study, which
lasts through 2016. Through the project, she
has established an extensive and highly detailed
database that allows her to test hypotheses
about the potential impact of construction
projects along coastlines, one of the few of its
kind. As part of her research, Weaver ventures
out into the waters of John’s Pass 10 —12 times
per month, for two to eight hours each day, to
collect data on the animals and determine the
impact the construction of a new waterway
bridge in the area has on the creatures. In a boat
piloted by Weaver’s husband, Master U.S. Coast
Guard Capt. John Heidemann, she collects
photos of each dolphin’s dorsal fins to determine
which animals are in the area for population
biology and abundance studies. She collects
behavioral data on what the animals do in the
location and how they are using the waterway
The project, however, extends beyond the
research and into the community, as Weaver
publishes a regular column about her work in
Tampa Bay Newspapers. Through this local
community newspaper, Weaver provides
residents with insight into the lives of the
dolphins in her study. “This project is a unique
opportunity to make science accessible and
friendly for people. It helps people learn about
wild animals and the issues that affect them.”
To date, Weaver has published 300 articles in
the paper and regularly gives richly illustrated
talks to local groups of all types. “It helps me
to build a rapport with the local community and
helps people to be more conservation-conscious
long-term,” said Weaver.
Weaver’s work also has an impact in the
classroom at Argosy University, Sarasota.
“The project helps me bring real data and real
dilemmas to the classroom,” said Weaver. “It
helps to make the subject of research, which
can be intimidating for some and dry for others,
very real for students. It is incredibly unique
to have and use data that the students are
personally connected to. It makes the science
much more approachable and relevant for them.”
SCHAUMBURG
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SCHAUMBURG
PARTNERS WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
TO HELP HOMELESS TEENS
Argosy University, Schaumburg extends its
education from the classroom to the community
with a partnership it has forged with a local
Illinois school district.
organization on a mission to help its children in
need. Argosy University, Schaumburg is there to
help, offering time, resources and donations for
those children and their families.
Community Unit School District 300, located in
the Fox River Valley in Chicago’s far northwest
suburbs, was officially founded in 1948 with
1,631 students. Today, District 300 is the sixth
largest school district in Illinois by enrollment
with more than 20,300 students over its 118
square mile radius.
Through a strong partnership developed
between the district and the university campus,
volunteers at Argosy University, Schaumburg
kicked off the District 300 school year by
gathering and donating boxes of school supplies
for District 300 children in need. Later, in the
fall, the campus gathered new and gently used
coats in support of a District 300 drive to ensure
all of its students had basic winter necessities
through the Salvation Army.
More than 500 of the district’s students and their
families are homeless — a statistic that sent the
“The partnership has been a wonderful avenue
to help provide students with the resources
they need to be successful in school,” said
retired District 300 Superintendent and Argosy
University professor Dr. Kenneth Arndt. “It has
also provided an avenue for the school district
to get to know Argosy University better as a
resource for enhancing the education of District
300 staff members and teachers.”
“The relationship between District 300 and
Argosy University has developed into the
university offering a cohort class for the school
district. It has been a wonderful avenue for
district staff to meet other interested and likeminded persons from education and all walks
of life,” said Arndt. “It provides the opportunity
to learn from each other and learn how many
similarities each profession has and what
challenges each of us face.”
SEATTLE
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SEATTLE THERAPISTS
IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM HELPS THOSE
DEALING WITH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
Argosy University, Seattle helped those
dealing with chemical dependency through its
Therapists in Residence program at Sundown
M Ranch. Counseling Psychology students
gained on-site practical experience, along
with course credit, as they joined Sundown’s
multidisciplinary staff in helping the facility’s
patients and families come to terms with
overcoming their addiction.
During the program, students lived in-residence
for a week at the ranch, the Northwest’s
largest chemical dependency facility, as part
of a course offered through Argosy University,
Seattle. Student participants spent time in the
classroom on campus, as well as at the ranch,
in this educational immersion opportunity. They
lived with patients and their families for a week,
gaining firsthand knowledge of, and experience
with, the rehab process. Immersed in therapy,
the real-life patient experience and activities
of the chemical dependency profession, they
learned the language and culture of recovery.
Sundown M Ranch was founded in 1968 and,
since that time, has led more than 114,000
adolescents, adults and families from the grip
of alcohol and drug addiction to the freedom of
recovery. The ranch is a retreat that provides
adult, youth, family residential and outpatient
chemical dependency treatment at its 30-acre
facility. Located at the entrance of the Yakima
River Canyon, it houses 60 youth, 96 adults and
54 of their family members residing at Sundown
for family therapy weekends. The organization
is nationally recognized for its quality programs
and professional caregivers who follow a clientcentered motto and approach.
Students who participated in this unique
learning experience during the summer helped
to organize and complete a continuing
education program for psychologists,
psychiatrists and chemical dependency
professionals in Seattle, Wash.
Argosy University, Seattle Associate Professor
Dr. David Moore said, “The cutting edge of
mental health counseling is in integrated
behavioral health where the mental health
counselor works in a team to deliver
multidisciplinary services. The most important
bridge we can build in this area is between the
mental health and substance abuse professions.
The Sundown-Argosy University immersion
program is the best bridge we can provide for
our students and the communities they serve.”
TAMPA
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, TAMPA
SPONSORS ANGELS
THROUGH SALVATION ARMY
Argosy University, Tampa helps to meet
the needs of local families each holiday
season through the Salvation Army’s
Angel Tree program.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree is an annual
charity event that provides children with gifts
and needed supplies. The Salvation Army, which
was established in 1865, created the Angel Tree
program to help meet some of the needs of the
more than 30 million Americans who receive
assistance, in some form, from the organization
each year.
For those who are in need, the Salvation Army
Angel Tree program is a resource to get families
through the holiday season. The organization
begins taking sign-ups at its website and
through local chapters in September and
October. Needy families can register to receive
gifts, while those who are able can sign up to
donate to children.
The program provides necessary items such
as clothing, school supplies and educational
materials to children and allows them to also
request a wished-for item. For its fifth year
of involvement with the program, Argosy
University, Tampa sponsored 50 “angels” and
matched them with employees and students on
the campus.
“Each angel on the tree at the campus provided
the first name, gender and the age of a child
in need,” said Jillian Conrad, senior human
resources generalist for the campus. “It
contained the name of an item the child needed,
as well as an item they wished for during the
holiday season. Our goal was to meet all of their
needs and make as many of their wishes come
true as possible.”
Employee and student donors’ donations were
presented to the Salvation Army in December,
and campus leadership spent the morning
volunteering at the agency. “We sorted toys,
unloaded vans as they arrived, put together
stocking stuffers for children, assembled
bicycles and spread holiday cheer,” said Conrad.
TWIN CITIES
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, TWIN CITIES
CONNECTS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY
THROUGH 360 COMMUNITIES
Argosy University, Twin Cities is making a
difference in its Eagan, Minn., community with
a partnership it forged with local philanthropic
organization 360 Communities.
360 Communities is a local nonprofit
organization founded by a dedicated group
of volunteers more than 40 years ago as the
Community Action Council, focused on engaging
residents in local communities to make an
impact and meet the personal, economic and
social needs of people where they live and work.
The organization offers more than 50 services
to residents, provided primarily in the four major
areas of violence prevention and awareness,
emergency food assistance, community
immigrant support and partnerships with area
schools to help better prepare students for
success. The organization believes in beginning
with success through programs such as the
Lewis House, Armful of Love, Partners for
Success and New American Services. All
services rely on a pool of trained volunteers and
key partnerships with area businesses and civic
leaders and organizations.
As an educational partner, Argosy University,
Twin Cities has conducted a number of charity
drives on campus, securing food, toiletry and
even toy donations to help meet the agency’s
needs at the Lewis House, a place that provides
safe housing, support and advocacy to survivors
of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Campus
President Scott Tjaden serves as a member
of the organization’s 360 Communities/Eagan
Community Convening Leadership Group.
Employees of the campus volunteer to help
meet the needs of the women and children
of Lewis House and also dedicate community
service hours in Partners For Success, a
program in 25 schools from seven school
districts in Minnesota’s Dakota and Scott
Counties, that helps students and families
overcome the problems that prevent a
successful school experience. Partners For
Success also decreases teacher time spent on
non-academic issues so they can focus on what
they do best: teaching.
Students have participated in awareness
activities for the organization such as “Shine the
Light on the Path to Prevent Sexual Violence”
and in collecting unused cell phones for the
organization’s use. While these cell phones
may no longer be in use or connected to a
phone plan, they can still contact emergency
services and fill a critical need for victims of
domestic violence.
path. Maybe not easier, but certainly different,”
said Robinson.
WASHINGTON DC
ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON DC
FACULTY MEMBER
PERFORMS WITH BRETHREN
Nearly 12 years after his journey as a member
of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
(GMCW) began, Argosy University, Washington
DC Associate Professor Sean Robinson still
revels in every performance. “Over the past 12
years, weekly for nine months out of the year, I
have gathered with 200 other gay men — my
chosen brothers and family — to sing, to share,
to laugh, to cry, to join together in music as a
community of one. Over the past 12 years, I
have not simply grown as a person,
I have grown as a gay man,” said Robinson.
The group, the largest of its kind in the world,
was founded as a way to delight audiences and
champion gay equality with robust artistry, fun
and surprise. The work the Gay Men’s Chorus
does goes beyond performing arts and extends
to outreach and education about and for the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
(LGBTQ) community. The Gay Men’s Chorus
entertains audiences through its two ensembles,
Potomac Fever, an a capella close harmony
group, and the Rock Creek Singers, a small
chamber group.
Performances take place throughout the year
at a host of venues, from community centers
and theaters to high schools. “Whether we are
taking an abridged concert into a school, giving
panel talks to students and teachers, or bringing
high school and college youth, teachers and their
families to a full performance, we as a group
of gay men are working to create those spaces
where all LGBTQ individuals are valued, affirmed,
respected and celebrated. I know that had I
experienced such an opportunity in high school
or college, my life may have taken a different
The group is focused on political action as
well, with a nationally televised performance at
President Obama’s 2008 inauguration, singing
before members of Congress on the day that
DC’s same-sex marriage law took effect, and
performing as part of the 2010 March on
Washington. The group has sung in response
to the AIDS crisis, to same-sex marriage
discrimination, to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” in
response to the impact of drug use
and addiction in the gay community, and
in response to hate crimes and violence
against LGBTQ individuals. “Both our musical
expression and our political activism, as it
were, seek to revise those heteronormative
conceptions of love, family, community and
humanity,” said Robinson.
“Because of my continuing involvement with the
Gay Men’s Chorus, I have grown to appreciate
the richness of diversity of our experiences
and to relish the sense of community that truly
exists. As a lifelong educator, student affairs
professional, and current faculty member at
Argosy University, Washington DC, these
aspects of GMCW’s goals hold a deeper
meaning. Because of these tenets, every time
I perform as part of GMCW, I am standing up
for who I am, I am standing up for those that
are not able to stand up for themselves and
I am telling those watching and listening that
it is OK to be whoever they are. Every time I
step onto the stage — usually dressed in some
outrageous costume and under some fantastic
lighting and set design — I come out. I come
out as a proud gay man. I come out for the
LGBTQ community. I come out unashamed of
who I am and proud of who I am becoming. I
am, because we are.”
LEADING THE COMMUNITY
THROUGH EDUCATION
“My entire career has been at William Penn
“As a child, going to college was never even
Elementary School, servicing the needs of
a thought,” said Dr. Sherryl Moore-Ollie, who
students from a community I grew up in, a
grew up on the west side of Chicago in a
community that has a special place in my heart,
single-parent home with three other siblings. “It
wasn’t until I met my high school counselor, Gail as do the children of William Penn Elementary,”
Williams, who exposed me to college campuses she said.
and academia, that I was inspired to want more
out of life.”
Moore-Ollie is incredibly active in the community,
taking part in groups such as Grow Your Own
Teachers, an organization that encourages
Today, Moore-Ollie is a principal of William
parents and young adults to go back to school
Penn Elementary School, making headlines
to become teachers in their own community.
across the nation for her innovative approach
She is best known for her work with the
to keeping gangs and violence out of the lives
of her students.
initiative Boxing Out Negativity (B.O.N.), which
began under her leadership at William Penn
Elementary. Under the initiative, former gang
leaders Derek Brown and Chevez Fitzpatrick
are giving back to the community they feel
they helped destroy. The two now mentor
elementary-age boys to discourage them from
becoming a part of a gang and to keep them
away from the negative elements that they
often encounter in their communities, such as
drugs and alcohol. B.O.N. teaches boys not
only physical discipline through boxing, but also
mental discipline and strength. The program has
been featured in the Chicago Tribune and on
“Dateline NBC.”
Moore-Ollie has been published in the Chicago
Tribune and Catalyst Chicago and was selected
by Congressman Danny Davis as one of the
Most Outstanding Administrators in education.
She received a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts
& Sciences from the University of Illinois at
Urbana and holds Master of Education degrees
in Elementary Education and Administration
& Supervision from Roosevelt University.
She earned her Doctorate of Education in
Educational Leadership from Argosy University,
Chicago in 2010.
During the campaign, Brown Mackie College —
Akron Practical Nursing Diploma students saw
60 students. “The students had a lot of fun, and
even more importantly, they had the opportunity
to interact with the community and work faceto-face with patients,” said Michelle Simmons,
A PERFECT MATCH
Brown Mackie College — Akron’s Practical
Nursing Diploma students were called to
action on Nov. 5, 2011, by the Mount Calvary’s
Baptist Church Nurse Ministry, which asked the
school to volunteer for a lifesaving project that
is part of the “Be the Match” campaign of the
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). The
NMDP is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit
organizations, specializing in providing lifesaving
bone marrow transplants to patients in need.
Thousands of people each year depend on
the “Be the Match” registry to assist their fight
against blood cancer diseases such as leukemia,
lymphoma and sickle cell anemia. Often times,
family members are not a match for the patient;
therefore, the NMDP spans its network across
the nation to locate positive matches.
The church held the bone marrow drive to
raise public awareness in the African-American
community concerning the great need that the
city of Akron, as well as many other cities across
the nation, has for bone marrow donors.
Brown Mackie College — Akron students were
asked to meet with potential donors and explain
the process of becoming a bone marrow donor.
The students then obtained DNA samples
by explaining and conducting a mouth swab
procedure. After the mouth swab was complete,
the students initiated the very important steps
of processing the clarification brochure that
assured the sample was from the correct donor.
Brown Mackie College — Akron Practical
Nursing instructor who led the volunteer project
on behalf of the college. “This experience was
one of the best practices of learning for student
nurses. This led to a very beneficial project.”
veterans will use to help them with
their schoolwork.”
Joe Sawvel, another Associate of Applied
Science in Information Technology student
said, “I am still in my general education
classes, but the Saturday IT workshop has
allowed me to start learning how to work on
GIVING COMPUTERS — AND VETERANS —
A FRESH START
Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center and
Brown Mackie College — Albuquerque teamed
up to assist our military veterans in pursuing
their educational goals. The VA’s Zia Assistive
Computerized Technology Program (Z-ACT) was
designed to provide quality patient care using
technology services for veterans who have
exhausted other funding sources. This program
loans donated technical equipment to veterans
once they have completed the Z-ACT Program
but, first, the computers must be serviced,
which included installing hard drives, operating
systems and applications software. Because of
the program’s popularity, there was a backlog
of service to get more computers ready for the
veterans. Brown Mackie College — Albuquerque
Information Technology (IT) Program Director
Mike Carlyle and Richard Johannes, a Z-ACT
assistant, met several times and discussed
how the school could assist in servicing the
computers. IT students were soon up to their
elbows in troubleshooting, replacing parts and
installing software.
“I loved it! These computers are a godsend,”
said Associate of Applied Science in information
technology student Michelle Burns. “I can’t
believe that I repaired a computer that our
computers.” Tony Villasenor, a Brown Mackie
College — Albuquerque IT instructor, took on
the responsibility of ensuring the computers
were as good as new and fully operational for
the VA veterans. “Our students received real
hands-on hardware and software experience
and the entire community benefitted from this
endeavor,” said Villasenor.
then who better to provide this amazing
service for than local children? We decided to
incorporate the two.” Thus, Little Angels
Atlanta began.
ONE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
LEADS TO ANOTHER
program. Fate converged at Brown Mackie
Every now and again, two special people meet
and the most unlikely thing happens. Such is the College — Atlanta.
case with Jana Sanford and Corey Carney. Even
crossing paths with each other seemed unlikely. “Classmates become family pretty quickly,”
Carney said. “We’re all going through the
A few years back, Sanford was studying art
same thing and it’s easy to get close. We
at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New
depend on each other.” After sharing a few
York City and Carney was attending Virginia
classes, Sanford and Carney discovered several
State University in Petersburg, Va. Fast forward
mutual interests. Both were determined to find
to today, and the pair are co-founders of Little
ways to gain OTA experience while studying
Angels Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that
to enter the field, and both wanted to give back
provides free trips to Florida for children with
special needs to participate in a life-changing
to the community.
swim with the dolphins program.
“The Florida Keys and the therapeutic swim
How did this come about? Unsettled with
with the dolphins programs have always been
their chosen career paths, each decided to
close to my heart,” she said. “I look forward to
change directions, and both enrolled in the
working in pediatrics, and Carney and I decided
same Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
if we were going to give back to the community,
Carney and Sanford worked with two nonprofit
facilities in Florida — The Dolphin Research
Center in Marathon and Island Dolphin Care in
Key Largo — to offer specific programs, which
enabled the students to tailor each trip to the
needs of each family.
Little Angels Atlanta offers a five-day
therapeutic vacation for entire families of
children with special needs. The organization
pays for airfare, travel, accommodations
and the swim programs. The Florida facilities
offer some program scholarship money, and
the two students raised funds to complete
each family package.
The first fundraiser took place in August 2011.
Drawing on her art background, Sanford invited
local artists to donate works for auction. An
auction reception took place at Emerging
Art Scene gallery in Atlanta. “It went well,”
Carney said. “People showed up and enjoyed
themselves, and we got good reviews.” The
student philanthropists are now developing a
mailing list and plan to reach out to colleges and
hospitals for help and nominations.
Classes continue for the pair, each of whom
expect to graduate in June 2012 with an
Associate of Applied Science degree in
Occupational Therapy Assistant. “Many times, I
thought I couldn’t do it,” Sanford said. But never
giving up, she has developed pride in herself
for being able to do the work. Both Sanford
and Carney express appreciation for the closeknit environment of the Brown Mackie College
— Atlanta school. “Everyone has been very
supportive from day one,” Carney said.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited
by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy
Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy
Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O.
Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone
number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA.
PRETTY IN PINK
Thousands of women die from breast cancer in
the United States each year, and it’s hard to find
anyone whose friends or family have not been
affected by this terrible disease. This is certainly
true at Brown Mackie College — Birmingham
where Linda McAllister, director of Nursing at
the campus, said, “My husband, daughter and
son-in-law, and I walked in the Susan G. Komen
Race for the Cure in memory of my mother-inlaw and in celebration of my best friend who is
currently battling breast cancer.”
During National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month in October 2011, staff at the school
disseminated information about breast cancer
prevention, detection and treatment. Attendees
also received pink-ribbon key chains, and all
employees received email tips about risk factors,
early detection, prevention and resources.
Brown Mackie College — Birmingham staff
and faculty members purchased special pink
shirts with a pink ribbon above the campus logo
to show their support for the cause. For the
students, the campus hosted a morning and
evening workshop with snacks and showed a
breast cancer video that provided information
about prevention, early detection and treatment.
The culmination of all these efforts was the
annual North Central Alabama Susan G. Komen
Race for the Cure that took place on Oct. 15,
2011. Eleven runners and walkers from Brown
Mackie College — Birmingham took part in
the event and formed a team called the Brown
Mackie College Lions. “This was the first year
I participated in the Race for the Cure, and I
was inspired by the numbers of participants
and breast cancer survivors,” said Sarah Tucker,
Occupational Therapy Assistant department
chair, and one of the participants. “The waves
of pink in all directions was unbelievable, and
I know that this event not only impacted me,
but was a memorable event for my 4-yearold daughter.” Even more staff and students
volunteered to hand out water to runners at the
Mile 2 Station. “It was an awesome opportunity
to see multiple generations come together for
this great cause,” said volunteer captain Melisha
Wilson, a Brown Mackie College — Birmingham
faculty member. “Every year, my daughter and
her friends come with me to hand out water
to support breast cancer survivors and raise
awareness and money for research,” she said.
The experience of the school was best
captured by Jacqueline Robinson, a medical
assisting student. “My mother has breast
cancer that has metastasized in her breast bone,
and the disease goes back five generations in
my family,” she said. “Seeing all the people at
the event was exhilarating to me. I enjoyed
showing school spirit while volunteering for
such a great cause.”
A touching thank you note signed by the
students from the Marian Pritchett High School
expressed their deep and heartfelt appreciation.
“Thank you for the wonderful Easter baskets you
delivered to our school on April 20,” the note
REACHING OUT:
AN EASTER SURPRISE
An important part of Brown Mackie College —
The school’s faculty, staff and students had a
Boise is making a difference in people’s lives.
great time purchasing items that would bring
One such opportunity at the school was bringing smiles to all volunteers and recipients involved.
Items in these deluxe baskets included foot
special Easter baskets to teenage mothers
and teenage homeless boys and girls in the
scrubs, belly creams, bath salts and perfumes,
community. Brown Mackie College — Boise
pregnancy pillows, cozy throws, gifts cards and
faculty, staff and student clubs purchased and
movie coupons.
filled 59 Easter baskets in April 2011. Fifty
The baskets were delivered on April 20, 2011,
baskets were delivered to the Marian Pritchett
and brought joy and delight to the young people.
High School, a very special school for young
“The looks of surprise and rich smiles on the
women 15 to 20 years old who are pregnant or
young ladies’ faces and their babies’ were the
who are mothers. Nine baskets were delivered
best part of the project,” said Sean Rippy, a
to the Hays Shelter Home of the Idaho Youth
Brown Mackie College — Boise faculty member
Ranch that provides services to at-risk youth
and volunteer.
13 to 18 years old, including the homeless,
runaways and victims of abuse or neglect.
said. “The girls and boys were delighted and
awed by the baskets you gave them.“
At the end of the day, that’s what Brown Mackie
College — Boise is about — making a difference
in people’s lives, no matter where they may be.
501(c)(3) corporation, striving to make a positive
difference and inspire our armed forces by
letting them know Americans stand with
them. At Brown Mackie College — Cincinnati,
many students, faculty and staff know family
members and friends who have served or are
currently serving in the military. The Honor
Society program thought this would be a great
way to honor them. The Honor Society program
students raised nearly $900 for OTA. They also
partnered with the school’s Early Childhood
HONOR SOCIETY GIVES BACK
TO U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct
proportion to their commitment to excellence,
regardless of their chosen field of endeavor,”
said Vincent Thomas Lombardi, the legendary
head coach of the Green Bay Packers
professional football team.
On May 24 and 26, 2011, this quote was read
to more than 77 Brown Mackie College —
Cincinnati students who were inducted into
the school’s Honor Society program. To be a
member of the program, each student was
required to provide six hours of community
service per school quarter. Between June 1,
2011, and Dec. 31, 2011, the Honor Society
program students logged an impressive 691
volunteer hours in supporting various community
organizations. Several organizations served
by the Honor Society program included The
Ronald McDonald House, Habitat for Humanity,
Avondale Youth Council and Troop 194 Eagle
Project Review Board. Each winter, the Honor
Society program selects an additional project
to support.
For the 2011 Winter Service Project, the
Honor Society program chose Operation Troop
Aid (OTA). The mission of OTA is to provide care
packages for U.S. service members with the
revenue generated through professional
concert promotions and generous financial
support from the community. OTA is a nonprofit
Education Club and sent more than 150 holiday
cards to active duty troops during the 2011
winter holiday season. Those cards were made
and designed by elementary school students.
“Community service has always been an
important part of our school’s culture,”
said Robin Krout, president of Brown Mackie
College — Cincinnati. “And, bringing joy to our
active duty troops was just terrific.”
to the community and show the dedication and
compassion of our employees and students
here at Brown Mackie College — Findlay,”
said Wayne Korpics, president of the school.
“It was a joy teaming up with Brown Mackie
College — Findlay,” said Michael Momany,
ENCOURAGING THE ENTIRE
CAMPUS TO “LIVE UNITED”
Brown Mackie College — Findlay encouraged
the entire school to “LIVE UNITED” by giving
to their community through the United Way.
The Hancock County United Way’s mission
is “to measurably improve people’s lives in
Hancock County.” They do this by focusing on
education, income and health to “help children
and youth achieve their potential, promote
financial stability and independence, and
improve people’s health.”
Following the cookie bake-off, faculty and staff
purchased raffle tickets for an opportunity to
win the campus president’s parking spot. Nearly
100 tickets were sold in a month’s time. Faculty
and staff rallied for their chance to have that
VIP parking. Additionally, the Brown Mackie
College — Findlay student program clubs
worked together to support the United Way by
selling slices of pizza during a lunch hour, raising
more than $100.
The school kicked off the campaign with all
school departments participating in a cookie
bake-off. Each department was responsible
for baking their favorite cookie, and for a
$1 donation, students were able to cast a
vote for their favorite.
Finally, faculty and staff divided into two teams
and competed to see which team could collect
the most pocket change. This competitive event
brought the campus together for a common goal
of supporting the community. “This campaign
provided the campus with a way to reach out
resource development director for the United
Way of Hancock County. “I appreciated the
efforts of the school’s students, faculty and staff
who took time, gave and secured donations, and
volunteered in the 2011 United Way Campaign.”
community,” she said. “For many, Thanksgiving
is a time when families think about the lack of
money they have. In a very special way, the
Thanksgiving dinner that the Boys & Girls Clubs
hosts annually is a way to help out.” A Brookmill
Apartments community resident said, “It is so
neat that they supplied us Thanksgiving dinner.
Nurses naturally care and it was great that they
cared so much about us.”
TAKING CARE
OF THANKSGIVING
In November 2011, the Brown Mackie
College — Fort Wayne Nurse group held a food
drive to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort
Wayne, Ind., with Thanksgiving dinners for two
Boys & Girls Clubs located in the area.
The Nurse group donated the side dishes and
food items collected during the food drive.
They also made a cash donation. “Brown
Mackie College — Fort Wayne students, faculty
and staff always come through when help
is needed,” said Bill Duffy, a Brown Mackie
College — Fort Wayne faculty member.
Not only did the Nurse group supply all of the
traditional side dishes for the dinner, the school’s
students, faculty and staff were on hand to
help decorate, prepare, serve and, of course,
clean up after the dinner. Starr Lee, a Brown
Mackie College — Fort Wayne faculty member,
even helped Boys & Girls Club members with
homework and tutoring. She also read stories to
smaller children once they finished their meals.
Shari Rathbun, the school’s Nurse group
president, organized the event. “It was
awesome that we could supply the necessary
items to benefit at-risk families in our
This event was covered by local television
stations and a story appeared in the local
newspaper. Joe Jordan, the executive director
of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, spoke
about the school’s effort. “Thank you for your
leadership; how appropriate for nursing students
to inspire young people — especially those
most in need — to reach their full potential as
productive, caring and responsible citizens,”
he said.
A young female member of the Boys & Girls
Club summed it up best when she said, “When
I grow up, I want to go to a Brown Mackie
College — maybe even be a nurse.”
According to the student volunteers, they valued
being able to step outside of their comfort zone
and connect with those less fortunate. “This
experience was life-changing in a positive
way for all involved,“ said Susan Whitfield,
A LOT TO GIVE
In the fall of 2011, the Medical Assisting (MA)
Student Society at Brown Mackie College —
Greenville was presented with the opportunity
to help collect various items for the LOT (Least
of These) Project ministry. The LOT Project,
founded in August 2009, is a faith-based
organization located in Anderson, S.C., that
meets the needs of those who are hurting,
abandoned and broken. Twice a week, guests
are provided with a bag to gather clothes, food,
shoes, and toiletries and receive a hot meal.
by the outpouring from the student body, the
MA students took it one step further by holding
a fundraiser to host a hot meal for the LOT
guests. Within a month, dinner was served
for 80 guests who feasted on homemade chili,
cornbread, cookies and iced tea.
The students spent time getting to know the
guests and, through upcoming fundraisers,
plan on becoming frequent dining companions.
“This is one of the best groups that we’ve seen
volunteer with us. They were able to jump
right in and connect with our guests. Many of
The winter season was fast approaching, and
the needs were overwhelming for clothes, coats our first-time volunteers are not this outgoing,”
said Lindsay Culbert, director of marketing and
and blankets. The MA Student Society started
development for The LOT Project.
collecting. The donations poured in, quickly
filling a truck with items of warmth. Propelled
department chair for Medical Assisting at Brown
Mackie College — Greenville. “This is what we
strive for at our school.”
“Our school volunteers believe in giving back
to the community,” said Elaine Cue, president
of Brown Mackie College — Hopkinsville.
“Lending a hand to community organizations
not only creates a stronger community but
DOING GOOD
IN OUR COMMUNITY
Brown Mackie College — Hopkinsville students, Jail” fundraiser. Participants were encouraged
graduates, faculty and staff pride themselves on
to obtain a warrant for the arrest of a friend or
supporting community fundraisers and events.
family member they wanted to see jailed. In
order for the individual to be released from jail,
In October 2011, the Legal Eagles Student
Club — with members consisting of students,
“bail” needed to be paid to Genesis Express. “It
graduates and faculty from the Criminal Justice
felt so good giving back to such a beneficial and
& Paralegal programs — selected a local charity
inspirational cause in the local community,” said
to support and volunteer their time with. The
Legal Eagles Student Club President Dwain
Johnson, an Associate of Applied Science in
Criminal Justice & Paralegal students chose
Criminal Justice student.
Genesis Express and volunteered at the local
Trigg County Ham Festival located in Cadiz, Ky.
Raising public awareness and needed funds for
Genesis Express is a public charity that offers
Genesis Express gave Brown Mackie College —
scholarships, educational assistance and literary
assistance to young people in the local Southern Hopkinsville volunteers a way to support a cause
closely related to their educational goals.
Kentucky area. During the festival, the Legal
Eagles enjoyed participating in a “Get out of
also creates a more cohesive and productive
school environment for students, faculty and
staff. Brown Mackie College — Hopkinsville will
continue to stay active and be an integral part of
our community.”
donations, and because each donation saves up
to three lives, the college has helped more than
170 patients in Indianapolis hospitals.” In raising
their sleeves, the students, faculty and staff at
Brown Mackie College — Indianapolis did their
part to help those patients.
ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES
TO LEND THEIR HANDS
The students, faculty and staff at Brown Mackie
College — Indianapolis really did have to roll up
their sleeves to be anonymous heroes by giving
blood to help those in need in the Indianapolis
community. On March 20, 2011, the school,
in conjunction with the Indiana Blood Center,
hosted a blood drive at the college.
The Indiana Blood Center is a not-for-profit
blood collection and distribution network that
supplies whole blood and blood products to
all Indianapolis hospitals. This was one of the
most successful blood drives because students,
faculty and staff were actively involved either
as volunteer helpers or as donors. One of the
Brown Mackie College — Indianapolis donors
related her personal story. As an infant, Lisa
Roberts, a clinical coordinator at the school,
had an illness that required a transfusion to
save her life. Without a blood donation from
an anonymous donor, Roberts might not be
employed by the school or alive today. “I
appreciated the willingness of a stranger to
help me,” she said. “Now I enjoy having the
opportunity to pass along the gift of life to
others in need.”
In a thank you letter, Lindsey Berry, field
representative for the Indiana Blood Center, said,
“Brown Mackie College — Indianapolis made 58
Donors may not be standing beside the person
in their hour of need, but they may be helping
the person beside them in class or on the
sidewalk, or even a friend they have not met.
They are anonymous heroes saving lives one
drop at a time.
website, and after taking the certification test to
volunteer, traveled to Joplin with her mother on
May 24.
STUDENTS RESCUE JOPLIN’S
SMALLEST VICTIMS
On May 22, 2011, Joplin, Mo., was hit by
an EF5, multi-vortex tornado that caused
indescribable devastation and substantial loss
of life. Brown Mackie College — Kansas City
Associate of Applied Science in Veterinary
Technology students Laura Stockmoe and
Stephanie Pierce immediately responded by
partnering with organizations that were called
upon by Joplin’s Emergency Management
Center to assist with rescue and recovery
efforts. Stockmoe, already a registered volunteer
with Code 3 Associates, a nonprofit organization
that provides a professional response resource
to animals in disaster situations, received a call
to action on May 23 to partner with the Humane
Society of Missouri to maintain rescue efforts in
the disaster zone.
Additionally, she helped set up an animal shelter
at a local warehouse, as well as a human and
animal shelter at a local college so those who
had lost everything could stay with their pets.
The field team also distributed kennels, food,
leashes, collars and bowls to the residents who
had lost all of their basic pet care supplies.
Stockmoe worked on a field team with Code 3
Associates and the Humane Society of Missouri
to capture and retrieve pets in the disaster zone.
Pierce immediately began contacting local
agencies to offer her help to the Joplin
community. She was directed to the FEMA
Stockmoe’s most vivid memory was rescuing
a scared and injured black Staffordshire pit bull
that was extremely territorial. The team chased
the dog across the dog owner’s property and
under a crawl space, then finally captured the
dog after more than a three-hour pursuit. This
was all done to provide care and to create a safe
environment for rescuers while they retrieved
the dog’s owners.
When Pierce arrived in Joplin, she was placed
with a FEMA search and rescue team working
against the clock to locate Zachery, a 13-yearold boy ripped from his mother’s arms by the
tornado. The team’s rescue dog picked up on
a live scent, and the team pulled Zachery’s
best friend, a yellow dog named Betty, from
the rubble. Sadly, Zachery did not join his
mother and Betty on the list of survivors. Pierce
persevered for three more days, searching
for signs of life, rescuing homeless animals
and helping families to reunite with lost pets.
Pierce’s dedication to the families and pets of
Joplin continued through return visits with the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (ASPCA) to assist with a clinic to
spay and neuter hundreds of pets that were
found and rescued, as well as adoption events
to place tornado victims with new families.
In the aftermath, nearly 1,000 pets were found,
rescued or surrendered. Officials reported that
292 owners were reunited with their pets. Both
Stockmoe and Pierce have found renewed
clarity in their priorities and goals through
their harrowing, and at times heartbreaking,
experience. Brown Mackie College — Kansas
City is honored to have such exemplary models
of humanity and service.
was on hand, drawing blood. Pam earned
an Associate in Applied Science degree in
Medical Assisting in 2008. Many Brown Mackie
College — Louisville students who completed
their externships at ARC continue to serve
as volunteers.
GIVING TIME,
GIVING BLOOD,
GIVING BACK
Brown Mackie College — Louisville’s partnership
with ARC includes community relations support
and externship and employment opportunities
for students. The school also hosts quarterly
blood drives. For spring/summer 2011, Brown
Mackie College — Louisville students, faculty
and staff donated more than 100 units of blood
to ARC.
the ARC Services, has worked with Brown
Mackie College — Louisville since 2006. “Our
community must have between 500 and 550
units per day to meet the needs of our local
hospitals,” Wedding said. “However, only five
to six percent of Jefferson County participates.
Brown Mackie College — Louisville’s
participation with ARC is critical in meeting
those goals since approximately 25 percent of
the blood collected in our area comes from high
school or college students. ARC has been able
to have successful blood drives because of
the ongoing support we receive from Brown
Mackie College — Louisville’s medical faculty,
staff and students.”
Keith Wedding, donor recruitment
representative for the River Valley Region of
Brown Mackie College — Louisville graduate
and current Phlebotomist for ARC Pam Jones
Brown Mackie College — Louisville and the
Louisville Chapter of the American Red Cross
(ARC) have been partners since 2006. ARC
provides information technology and call center
support and communications during disasters, a
great asset to the Greater Louisville community.
“We truly value our community partnerships,”
said Mike Fontaine, president of Brown Mackie
College — Louisville. “Our relationship with
the ARC gives both staff and students an
opportunity to give back to our local community.
ARC truly values our students’ skills, and many
of our students have served as ARC externs
and employees.”
In 2011, Brown Mackie College — Louisville
received a Volunteer Service Recognition award
from ARC. This award recognizes community
partnerships and the success of their efforts in
producing results that meet the need of
the community.
THE JOYS OF GIVING
TO GIRLS AND BOYS
At Brown Mackie College — Merrillville,
students, faculty and staff routinely unite in an
effort to serve the Greater Northwest Indiana
community. The commitment to community
service is a part of the school’s culture.
In 2011, Brown Mackie College — Merrillville
specifically targeted the holiday season as a
time to support the community. At no time are
community needs and opportunities for giving
greater. After reviewing several wonderful
organizations, the school partnered with Toys for
Tots, Gary Indiana Unit, to provide holiday toys
for less fortunate children.
The Toys for Tots program began in 1947, when
a group of California Marine Reservists began a
holiday toy drive for children in need. That year,
the Reservists collected 5,000 toys for needy
children. To date, the United States Marine
Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has given
more than 400 million toys to more than 188
million deserving children.
The Toys for Tots donation box was set up
outside of the Merrillville president’s office.
Almost immediately, the toys started coming.
Students, faculty and staff rallied behind the
effort. Each day, new toys appeared. By the
time the Toys for Tots officials returned to
retrieve the collection box, it was overflowing
with toys.
Christmas and send a message of hope to
America’s less fortunate children.”
The Toys for Tots Gary Indiana Unit set a goal of
providing toys for 2,000 less fortunate children
in the community. It turned out that 2,600
children throughout the community had a happy
holiday season.
Scotty Kessler, executive assistant to
President Powell and event organizer, noted
that the event not only lifted school morale,
but also had a profound impact on all who
participated. “As a parent, I know how much
it means to provide your children with a happy
Christmas,” she said. “I also know how
challenging that can be. Every day, when I saw
new toys in the box, I couldn’t help but smile at
the thought of a couple more children having a
very merry Christmas.”
Shortly thereafter, Brown Mackie College —
Merrillville proudly accepted the Commander’s
Award from the United States Marine Corps
Reserve Toys for Tots Program. As stated on
the award, “Your generous contributions have
enabled the Marine Corps to bring the joy of
working for an employer that supports advocacy
for changing the lives of those in our community.
The exercise of painting and recording a
personal message created impact for a great
cause and offered the additional benefit of
teambuilding within the group.
STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF
BECOME CITIZEN ARTISTS
TO PAINT FOR EDUCATION
Brown Mackie College — Miami students,
faculty and staff joined the Greater Miami
community in a United Hearts of America
event and sent a message to President Barack
Obama, U.S. Congress and Rick Scott, governor
of Florida, to encourage improvements in the
educational system. On April 9 and 10, 2011,
more than 70 Brown Mackie College — Miami
students, faculty and staff participated in the
United Hearts of America “Paint for Education”
campaign to raise awareness for better funding,
choice and content in our schools and colleges
across the United States.
Each participant painted a heart on one of many
canvases consisting of more than 1,000 hearts.
The canvases were later fused together into
three separate works of art. Each heart was
numbered and a corresponding video message
was recorded by the painter containing a short
statement of their view on the current state of
education in the United States and the need for
improvements. The video messages were then
linked together to accompany the painted hearts.
Brown Mackie College — Miami not only
sponsored the event and participated in the
painting, they also provided video equipment
and personnel to tape the messages.
Many of the video messages recorded by the
college’s students, faculty and staff were in
support of a student’s right to choose their
education and to ensure those choices remained
broad. The video also provided an opportunity
for everyone to express the pride they feel in
“Doing this project spoke volumes about the
passion that everyone has for education,” said
Dawn Piper, the college’s student development
chair, lead faculty information technology, and
coordinator for The Lion Hearts, a student
volunteer group. “There were so many positives
that came out of the United Hearts of America
event,” said Julia Denniston, president of
Brown Mackie College — Miami. “This was a
chance for faculty, staff and students to come
together around a cause that’s near and dear to
our hearts … education.”
CASA ADVOCATES COMMITTED
TO IMPROVING CHILDREN’S LIVES
requirements, completed a drug rehab program
and has been reunited with his birth parents.
Powalski says his personal satisfaction with the
CASA program comes from the ability to show
juveniles that there is more to life than peer
pressure and drugs. “CASA is very thorough
in training and educating their advocates about
drug abuse, as well as physical and mental
abuse,” said Powalski. “They give advocates
the tools to recognize abuse and neglect in
home settings and how to identify weaknesses
and problems within the dynamics of a family.
Many juveniles in the program excel and reach
their goals with the support from CASA and
program advocates.”
“My ultimate goal is to become a parole or
probation officer. The school’s faculty and staff
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
volunteers are people who care about children.
They are from diverse backgrounds and are not
required to have legal experience or expertise.
Volunteers (advocates) are assigned to an
abuse or neglect case by a judge. They conduct
thorough research on the background of the
case, including reviewing documents and
interviewing the child and all parties involved
with the child. The advocates write reports to
the court with a recommendation of what they
believe is best for the child, providing the judge
with information on the child’s behalf that will
assist him or her in making an informed decision
for the child’s future. A CASA volunteer may be
the only constant the child knows as they move
through the child welfare system.
Steven Powalski, a student enrolled in the
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program
at Brown Mackie College — Michigan City, has
been a CASA advocate for more than two years.
He attended CASA training for 10 weeks, two
hours per day. Following the training, Powalski
was assigned to the case of a 14-year-old male
juvenile who had, among other concerns, a
drug abuse problem. Because of confidentiality,
the juvenile is not identified. Powalski visited
him twice a week for eight continuous months
at the foster parent’s home. He also talked on
the phone with him and met with the juvenile’s
foster parents over that period of time.
Through Powalski’s help, the juvenile was able
to reach compliancy with the court system’s
have been instrumental in helping pursue
that goal,” Powalski said. “I am now in school
and plan to earn my Bachelor of Science
degree in Criminal Justice from Brown Mackie
College — Michigan City in 2013.” Powalski
earned an Associate of Science degree in
Criminal Justice from the college in 2011.
Powalski’s volunteer efforts with CASA
have allowed him to be exposed to judges,
lawyers, case workers, and probation and
parole officers. For Powalski, volunteering
with CASA and learning from Brown
Mackie College — Michigan City continues
to be a great experience.
THE BEST TIME TO SERVE IS
POSITIVE TIME WITH THOSE WHO CARE
As members of the American Criminal Justice
Association (ACJA), Brown Mackie College —
North Canton Associate of Applied Business
in Criminal Justice degree program students
and graduates go above and beyond to assist
others. The students and graduates volunteered
to mentor 15- to 19-year-old male inmates
housed at the Indian River Juvenile Correctional
Facility located in Massillon, Ohio. Students
and graduates mentored 12 male inmates from
February 2011 through December 2011. These
young men made poor decisions in their lives
and are striving to better themselves. Many
required positive reinforcement from others.
While mentoring, the Brown Mackie
College — North Canton volunteers did
not know the specifics about the crimes
committed by the young men. This ensured
the volunteers did not develop any biases and
react differently toward them. As each month
passed, the volunteers witnessed positive
changes in the young men’s outlook on life. No
more did the young inmates want to be locked
up. Working with the young men and listening
to their personal stories was not easy. They
discussed their lives with Brown Mackie College
— North Canton Criminal Justice students
and graduates and also shared stories about
their past crimes and what they have done to
overcome the challenges and barriers they have
faced. The students and graduates talked about
the criminal justice field and the joy of learning.
mentors has been beneficial. I am the president
The school’s partnership with the Indian River
of the American Criminal Justice Association at
Juvenile Correctional Facility has provided an
our school, and I am very proud of the students
excellent opportunity for Brown Mackie
College — North Canton students and graduates and graduates who served as mentors.”
to give back to the community and for the young
“This experience enabled our students to use
men to learn about the criminal justice arena.
firsthand the information they have been taught
“It has been a privilege to partner with Brown
in the classroom,” said Kim Hufgard, Criminal
Mackie College — North Canton,” said Randy
Justice department chair at Brown Mackie
Dixon, chaplain at Indian River. “Our young
College — North Canton. “They are able to
men have thoroughly enjoyed the experience
see the juvenile correction and rehabilitation
of learning about forensics, fingerprinting and
processes. The rehabilitation process at Indian
the wealth of knowledge that the students and
River Juvenile Correctional Facility exemplifies
graduates have brought to them.”
one of the core goals of criminal justice. The
young men are taking strides to turn their lives
“The Indian River experience is one I wish could
be tried by many more of the students of Brown around, and it is inspiring to be a part of that
change. The 140 hours of volunteer time was
Mackie College — North Canton,” said Paul
Berry, Criminal Justice student.”The young men well worth it.”
we talked to had a lot of questions. Serving as
Finally, the Career Services department
designed a commemorative ribbon board
that was displayed along the school’s hallway.
Students, faculty and staff purchased ribbons
for a dollar in honor or memory of someone who
had been affected by cancer.
Through its combined fundraising efforts, Brown
Mackie College — Northern Kentucky raised
TEAM NORTHERN KENTUCKY
HELPS IN THE FIGHT FOR A CURE
Brown Mackie College — Northern Kentucky
supported the 2011 Breast Cancer Awareness
Month by helping to raise money and awareness
for Fight for a Cure. Dozens of students, faculty
and staff participated in various activities leading
up to the American Cancer Society’s Making
Strides against Breast Cancer walk that took
place on Oct. 9, 2011.
For example, during one event, faculty and staff
paid to go casual by donating each time they
wore jeans on Fridays and Saturdays during
September 2011.
Also during that month, Brown Mackie
College — Northern Kentucky’s admissions
department organized a “Car Wash for a Cure”
in which employees and students volunteered
their time to help wash cars from the Northern
Kentucky community. Two staff members
contacted local auto care businesses to obtain
donations for the car wash. Those donations
included soap, sponges, towels and buckets
for the event. Additionally, in September, the
school’s student services department organized
a “Penny War” with other school departments.
Each department had to collect as many pennies
in its jar as possible. Participants could also
add coins of higher denominations or dollar
bills to another team’s penny jar, which would
“cancel” out a corresponding number of pennies.
The activity created a fun competition among
departments while raising additional funds for
Fight for a Cure.
more than $700 for the American Cancer
Society, prior to the Making Strides against
Breast Cancer walk where students, faculty
and staff brought their families to participate.
After surpassing its fundraising goals the first
year of participation, the school hopes to raise
even more money when it teams up with the
American Cancer Society in October 2012.
CREATING POSITIVE TOMORROWS
In August 2011, Brown Mackie College —
Oklahoma City opened its doors to the Greater
Oklahoma community as a higher education
institution. For the school, being a new member
of the community meant that it was also
important to become a true partner in the region.
“Positive Tomorrows, located in downtown
Oklahoma City, Okla., is a great cause that our
students, faculty and staff just fell in love with,”
said John Fogarty, president of Brown Mackie
College — Oklahoma City. “We like Positive
Tomorrows’ vision of creating a sanctuary of
hope and education for homeless children and
their families for life. It’s a commitment from
our team to promote a positive future for the
families involved and those who are associated
with Positive Tomorrows.”
Positive Tomorrows is a private, tuition-free
school for Oklahoma City’s homeless children,
kindergarten through fifth grade. Funding a
private program of this nature can have its
obstacles. As a result, the school is always
looking for donations of volunteer time, supplies,
clothes, money, et cetera. “What’s so great
about this school is that no student will ever
have the baggage associated with being
homeless held against them; students are
nurtured academically, socially and emotionally,”
said Fogarty.
Brown Mackie College — Oklahoma City started skills programs for students’ families. “It’s so
crucial that we give back to our community
a drive to collect school supplies, clothing
by encouraging and supporting education for
and hygiene products. Everyone continued
everyone possible,” said Fogarty.
to donate and found other options to help
Positive Tomorrows by donating items such
“Thank you for your in-kind gifts to Positive
as toner cartridges. Once the toner cartridges
Tomorrows, Central Oklahoma’s only elementary
are empty, Positive Tomorrows receives
school specifically for homeless children,” said
credit toward future purchases at their school.
Joshua Beasley, director of development for
This community service activity will be a
Positive Tomorrows. “Your support means that
continued effort by Brown Mackie College —
we will continue to be a source of help and
Oklahoma City students, faculty and staff to
hope to homeless children. I can’t think of a
help Positive Tomorrows pursue their goal of
more important gift to give a child than the gift
becoming a fully funded, regionally accredited
of a better future — thank you for making that
school that provides education to students in
future possible.”
preschool through 12th grade, as well as life
The annual winter clothing drive lasted several
weeks and resulted in several trips to St. Joseph
the Worker to deliver donated items. During
each trip, hugs were exchanged and words of
appreciation were shared. It became clear that
while St. Joseph the Worker was receiving the
donations, the real gift was being given to those
who donated the winter items.
WARM HEARTS
FOR COLD HANDS
Phoenix, Ariz., is a city known for its warm
weather and sunny days, but by November 2011,
the students, faculty and staff of Brown Mackie
College — Phoenix began feeling the chill of the
winter season. However, as the weather grew
colder, the hearts of many at the school warmed
with the thought of helping others.
annual winter clothing drive. Within days of
announcing the opportunity at school, Brown
Mackie College — Phoenix students began
organizing in support of the drive. Bags
and boxes filled with hats, jackets, scarves,
sweaters, pants and new socks began to fill the
career services office at the school.
After partnering with St. Joseph the Worker at
the 13th annual Hike for the Homeless during
the summer of 2011, Carole Redden, director
of career services at Brown Mackie College —
Phoenix, reached out to Nina Lindsey, program
manager of St. Joseph the Worker, about
providing assistance during the organization’s
Wanting to provide greater support to the
clients of St. Joseph the Worker, members
of the school’s Student Occupational Therapy
Association (SOTA) club stepped in to lead
the collection efforts. SOTA students donated
several boxes of winter clothing items.
At the completion of the drive, St. Joseph the
Worker staff members said they were very
touched by the efforts of our students. Twelve
large bags and boxes of donated winter clothing
items were delivered to the organization. “With
your support, St. Joseph the Worker was able
to continue helping homeless, low-income and
other less fortunate individuals reach selfsufficiency through quality employment,” said
Brent Downs, executive director of St. Joseph
the Worker.
The students, staff and faculty of Brown Mackie
College — Phoenix are honored to have had the
opportunity to work with the wonderful staff
and clients of St. Joseph the Worker.
professional wardrobe. Through this referral
partnership, four Brown Mackie College — Quad
Cities students have been suited for their postgraduate interviews.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN WOMEN
ONE SUIT AT A TIME
Brown Mackie College — Quad Cities Career
Services staff works diligently to prepare
students and graduates for their job search,
including supporting them in the areas of
resume writing, interviewing skills, job leads
and employer networking. However, providing
professional clothing to students who do not
have the resources to purchase interview attire
was an area the college had yet to pursue.
When the college’s career services staff learned
that Dress for Success Quad Cities opened in
2010, they recognized a potential opportunity.
They realized a parallel existed between career
services’ goals and those of Dress for Success
Quad Cities. The mission of Dress for Success
is to promote the economic independence of
disadvantaged women by providing professional
attire, a network of support and the career
development tools to help women thrive in work
and in life.
In August 2011, following a meeting with
Regina Haddock Clewell, founder/executive
director of Dress for Success Quad Cities,
Nancy Kay Cerny, director of career services
for Brown Mackie College — Quad Cities found
a dual purpose in partnering with Dress for
Success Quad Cities. The college could actively
support the organization and help students look
their best and build their confidence. In support
of Dress for Success Quad Cities, Brown
Mackie College — Quad Cities faculty and staff
made a financial donation to the organization.
As a result of the August meeting, Brown
Mackie College — Quad Cities became a
Referral Partner of Dress for Success Quad
Cities in November 2011. All Dress for Success
clients must be referred in order to receive
services. Once referred, the client receives
one suit for a job interview and a second suit
or separates when she secures employment,
thus providing her with the foundation for a
including accessories and a handbag. Dress for
Success is a very good program.”
Clewell said, “When I started Dress for
Success Quad Cities, I contacted every agency
“Partnering with Dress for Success Quad
or organization that I knew would be helping
disadvantaged women get the skills and
Cities has been a great experience. The Brown
preparation they needed to enter the workforce.
Mackie College — Quad Cities students and
It was important to me that we follow the
graduates referred to the organization may
guidelines of our worldwide organization and
not have been suited in professional attire if it
make sure the women were really job-ready.
were not for the college’s partnership,” said
After meeting with Nancy Cerny, I knew she
Cerny. “Our students and graduates have been
so excited and thankful to be given this special
understood the power of our mission and we
attention during the suiting and have raved about were a good fit for Brown Mackie College
their experience.”
— Quad Cities’ students and graduates who
needed this extra support service. We couldn’t
“Dress for Success Quad Cities staff were very
reach out to women in need without our Referral
nice and tuned in to what I wanted and needed,” Partners, and we appreciate the leadership role
the college took to help us immediately start
said Marlana Richardson, who is pursuing an
serving Quad Cities women. In fact, a Brown
Associate of Science degree in Paralegal and is
scheduled to graduate in 2012. “They provided
Mackie College — Quad Cities student was our
very first client in November 2011.”
me with everything I needed for an interview,
FACULTY AND STAFF UNITE TO HELP
STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
In the fall of 2011, Brown Mackie College —
Salina took up the call to help the Salina Area
United Way. After attending the Salina Area
United Way organizational meetings, school
faculty and staff created an action plan to
support the United Way’s goal.
students, faculty and staff was the Pancake
Palooza for breakfast, lunch and dinner! The
Brown Mackie College — Salina United Way
team made United Way aprons and set up the
school’s pancake bar for an entire school day.
In 2011, the Salina Area United Way reduced its
staff with no reduction in grants. At the same
Because many of the school’s students came to
school and attended class without having a meal, time, United Way stewardship of community
funds increased with all partners. Brown Mackie
the events created by the school’s United Way
College — Salina more than doubled its 2011
team were designed to aid the student body
while raising money. It was also very important
United Way contribution as compared to 2010.
to have faculty and staff involvement while
at the same time connecting directly to the
“We greatly appreciate everything Brown Mackie
Salina community.
College — Salina has done to partner with the
United Way,” said Andy Martin, director of the
Several food events were planned, but the
Salina Area United Way. “We look forward to
event that brought in the most responses from
working with the school in the upcoming year.”
BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE — SAN ANTONIO
AIDS IN FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER
In September 2011, Brown Mackie
College — San Antonio students, faculty
and staff joined forces with Project New
Beginnings (PNB) Genesis Food Pantry, a local
nonprofit corporation whose mission is to aid in
the fight against hunger. The organization’s goal
was to collect 50,000 pounds of food for the
San Antonio Food Bank and distribute the food
to needy families in the San Antonio community.
With the help of Brown Mackie College — San
Antonio volunteers, the goal was surpassed.
A total of 64,000 pounds of donated food was
collected and distributed to needy San Antonio
families. “Daily, we strive to understand what
it truly means to help thy neighbor, by offering
a compassionate hand to those residents
in our community who may be struggling
due to unemployment, divorce, disability,
homelessness, disaster and the rising cost of
living,” said Joel Allen, Brown Mackie
College — San Antonio business instructor.
Christine Hernandez, a Brown Mackie
College — San Antonio student volunteer
pursuing an Associate of Science degree in
Health Care Administration, provided an account
that warms the heart. “On Thanksgiving,
my husband Nick gets up very early in the
morning and drives downtown to one of the
local shelters to serve Thanksgiving meals to
hundreds of men, women and children,” she
said. “When Nick returns home, he is full of
stories, some happy and some sad. But he
always comes home knowing that even the
little part that he did at the local shelter made
a difference. While listening to his stories, I
couldn’t help but wonder if this was something
I could do.“ Brown Mackie College — San
Antonio volunteers were excited to participate
for this worthy cause. They unloaded the
truck, filled the bags and boxes, and watched
as the line of people grew. Hernandez was so
moved by the act of kindness that she began
volunteering monthly. “Knowing that I can
make a difference in someone’s life is a feeling
that is hard to express,” said Hernandez. Allen
commented, “It’s not only important to provide
students with a quality education, but also to
help them find an opportunity to give back to
their community. At Brown Mackie College —
San Antonio, we provide our students with a
solid education. We believe that commitment
begins in the classroom, and we also believe
that real-world experience makes every person
a contributor to our society. Our school is
committed to participating in the fight against
hunger by joining forces with our community
partners. We plan to continue to support PNB
Genesis Food Pantry and other community
initiatives for many years to come.”
their desired quality of life, has been the only
recipient of Brown Mackie College — South
Bend’s annual Valentine’s Day Tea.
VALENTINE’S DAY
SPEAKS VOLUMES AT BROWN MACKIE
COLLEGE — SOUTH BEND
As Valentine’s Day approaches each year,
those who should be recognized and
appreciated are often forgotten. Annually,
Brown Mackie College — South Bend provides
an opportunity for underserved populations,
including the disabled and elderly populations,
to participate in the school’s community
outreach Valentine’s Day activities. Valentine’s
Day recipients experience the joy of receiving
from those who care.
Prior to Valentine’s Day in February 2011, Brown
Mackie College — South Bend students, faculty
and staff designed and created Valentine’s Day
cards. On Feb. 11, more than 275 vibrantly
decorated cards were delivered to local nursing
homes in South Bend. Everyone wanted to
brighten the sometimes forgotten lives of
nursing home residents.
Coupled with the Valentine’s Day activities on
Feb. 11 was the school’s third annual Valentine’s
Day Tea held at the Logan Center in support
of the organization’s residents. The Logan
Center, an organization devoted to enhancing
the lives of people with disabilities in achieving
Brown Mackie College — South Bend
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students,
a group of students committed to promoting
independence of those with physical and mental
health challenges, hosted the tea. The students
delivered Valentine’s Day cards, cookies and
conversation to the residents of the Logan
Center. The personal attention and recognition
were appreciated by the residents and the
Logan Center’s staff. “The OTA students were
excellent at working with our residents, and the
event gave the residents a chance to connect
with the broader community, a goal that the
Logan Center embodies,” said Barbara Pickut,
Logan’s adult day services program manager.
Students also shared their sentiments. Sara
Rosenberg remarked that she and her fellow
OTA students thought they were there to bring
joy to the clients. However, in the end, she said
the OTA students also received the joy that
came with giving. Lisa Baer, a Brown Mackie
College — South Bend OTA student said, “I
remember being very nervous going in and
visiting the Logan Center residents, not knowing
what to expect. The Logan Center’s staff was
very kind, and the residents were just amazing.
Soon the nerves settled, and I was enjoying my
time talking, laughing and helping the residents
as they came in for the Valentine’s Day party.
It was a wonderful experience, and I am very
grateful I was a part of it.”
All involved had the opportunity to enjoy the
event, and most of all, the joy that is generated
by “paying it forward.”
roads, and abandoned in public parks, empty
houses and dark alleys. Dogs have even been
left chained behind buildings after their owners
moved away. “I am delighted that Stray Rescue
is a no-kill shelter,” said Gwyn. “It’s very
rewarding,” Wyatt said, “to see animals start
new lives in good homes.”
KEEPING OUR STRAY FRIENDS
HEALTHY AND ALIVE
Students, faculty and staff at Brown Mackie
College — St. Louis have always been busy
volunteering at Stray Rescue of St. Louis,
whether it was walking dogs, coordinating
adoption events, bringing a dog to work or
grooming them for a “forever” home.
“Volunteering is an opportunity to give back to
the community,” said Cherie Wyatt, adjunct
instructor in the Legal Studies department at
Brown Mackie College — St. Louis. “It’s very
rewarding seeing the dogs start new lives in
good homes.”
Between foster homes and the three shelters,
Stray Rescue averages more than 400
adoptable dogs and cats daily. “It’s an amazing
organization that keeps dogs off the streets and
finds them loving homes,” said Megan Gwyn,
executive assistant to Terri Leap, president
of Brown Mackie College — St. Louis. “It’s
impressive the impact Stray Rescue has on
the St. Louis community, particularly when
the largest city-run dog pound was shut down
in 2010. When the dog pound was deemed
unsuitable for sheltering dogs, Stray Rescue
came to the rescue by providing shelter and
adopting the dogs.”
Feb. 14, 2011, marked a new endeavor for
Brown Mackie College — St. Louis. The school
held their first dog adoption event. Students,
faculty and staff assisted with transporting dogs
to the school. This provided an opportunity for
the dogs to be out of the shelter for the day to
socialize with potential owners. The event was
successful because several dogs were adopted.
Stray Rescue’s purpose is to rescue stray dogs
and cats in need of medical attention, restore
them to health and place them in loving adoptive
homes. Virtually all the pets Stray Rescue saves
have been abused and neglected. They’ve
been dumped on highways and remote country
Rescued animals often make the best pets. The
pets from Stray Rescue, a no-kill organization,
seem to understand that they have a second
lease on life. In return for a little affection and
attention, these remarkable animals reward their
new owners with unmatched love and loyalty.
“Volunteering is a great opportunity to give back
to the community,” said Gwyn. Brian Copeland,
a Brown Mackie College — St. Louis Criminal
Justice student, also enjoys volunteering for the
organization. He said, “I enjoy volunteering for
Stray Rescue. I love walking dogs, but at this
time, they are not permitted in my apartment.
As soon as I purchase a house, I am looking
forward to fostering a dog from Stray Rescue.”
OVERSTUFFED SURPRISES
Monthly, the principles of sociology class at
Brown Mackie College — Tucson organizes a
community project. First, the class forms an
organization that includes students, faculty and
staff. Then, a plan is created and carried out.
From Aug. 1 through 22, 2011, the class was
assigned the task of helping the children of the
Tucson, Ariz., community. The class selected
Aviva Children’s Services as the organization
to support. Aviva is a nonprofit agency that
provides a variety of support services to children
who have experienced abuse, neglect or
poverty and are in the care of Child Protective
Services. Aviva offers help by linking children
with community resources or providing items
requested by case managers.
Because the school year began in August, the
sociology class proposed collecting backpacks
stuffed with school supplies for the children
served by Aviva. The students’ goal was to
collect 100 backpacks and school supplies to
stuff in the backpacks.
The class formed three groups to accomplish
this project: Group 1 placed collection boxes
at the school’s main and learning site locations.
Group 2 took charge of advertising the project,
acquired donations of backpacks and kept
the Brown Mackie College —Tucson school
community informed about progress toward
the goal. Group 3 kept a list of all items donated.
The three-week timeline to reach their goal was
a stretch, but the class knew it was possible. At
the end of the third and final week, the students
retrieved the collection boxes. With the help of
faculty and staff, more than 100 backpacks and
more than four boxes of supplies were collected
for Aviva Children’s Services.
On the Monday following the collections,
students, faculty and staff met at Aviva to
if the students would like to see the facility
deliver, sort and fill the backpacks with school
and learn more about Aviva. Every student
supply donations. A Brown Mackie College —
took the tour and a few signed up to volunteer
Tucson staff member commented that he was
overwhelmed with what the class had achieved. with the agency.
Aviva’s staff was impressed with the large
quantity of donations from the school’s students, The three-week project transformed a group
faculty and staff.
of students into a group of caring people who
worked together as a unit to achieve more than
An assembly line was formed to fill the
the goal they had set out to accomplish. “As the
campus president, I was so proud of our future
backpacks. Tables were set up to hold the
graduates, faculty and staff who participated in
backpacks and donated supplies. The school
this event,” said Tim Bush, president of Brown
volunteers also filled backpacks from donations
Mackie College — Tucson. “Community service
given by other sources. Working together as
is very important to me and everyone associated
a cohesive team, 500 backpacks were filled in
with our school, and we enjoy interacting with
approximately four and a half hours.
our wonderful community. At Brown Mackie
College — Tucson, we say, ’coming together
The sociology class students exceeded their
is the beginning, staying together is a process
goal. Although everyone was exhausted, they
but working together equals success!’ It will
could not stop talking about the number of
always be our goal to continue to work together
children who would greet the first day of school
to ensure the success of the community where
with a new backpack and school supplies.
we are located and are proud to serve.”
The Aviva volunteer coordinator thanked
Brown Mackie College —Tucson and asked
Medical Assisting instructor. “We were thanked
with hugs and tears of joy for bringing laughter
and smiles to the faces and lives of those
sweet children.”
BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE — TULSA
VOLUNTEERS’ VISIT BROUGHT SMILES
TO CHILDREN’S FACES AT THE
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS
Bringing a smile to a child’s face gives everyone
a warm feeling. Bringing a smile to a sick child’s
face can make you feel 10 feet tall! That is what
the students, faculty and staff at Brown Mackie
College — Tulsa wanted to do. Led by Medical
Assisting program students, Brown Mackie
College — Tulsa students, faculty and staff held
a toy drive on Aug. 26, 2011, for the patients at
The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis.
“Our goal was to brighten a sick child’s day,”
said John Pappas, president of Brown Mackie
College — Tulsa. “This was something our
students, faculty and staff felt very
passionate about. I am proud of our desire to
give something back to our community.”
The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis is the
largest facility of its kind in eastern Oklahoma
with more than 100 pediatricians on staff. The
school volunteers started the toy drive by
collecting unused toys. As a result of their
efforts, toys were collected for more than 70
sick children at The Children’s Hospital at Saint
Francis. The students, faculty and staff were
able to go room to room and personally meet
the children and their families. It was great
feeling that Brown Mackie College — Tulsa
students, faculty and staff spent quality time
with the children and gave each one a gift to
brighten their day.
A hospital can be a scary place, especially for a
child. “We sat down with the children and their
families and had fun,” said Kellie Manns, lead
“Brown Mackie College — Tulsa students,
faculty and staff brought a lot of smiles with
them that day,” said Chrissy Struter, volunteer
services director at The Children’s Hospital at
Saint Francis. “They had a positive impact on
our patients.”
TURNING AN EDUCATION
INTO A WAY TO HELP OTHERS
In 2008, Michael Slater had it all: a good job, a
wife and five children, and a home. Then the
economy crashed. “I had to make some quick
decisions,” he said.
Unemployed despite consistent efforts to find a
job, education became Slater’s priority. At Brown
Mackie College — North Canton, personal
service made a significant difference.
Slater has faced difficult times before. In 1984,
he enlisted in the National Guard at age 17. By
age 19, he was an infantryman in the Army on
his way to Korea for 13 months. He served his
remaining time at Fort Lewis in Washington
state and left the Army in 1988 as a Specialist.
The class format and inclusive atmosphere
prompted him to enroll in the college’s
criminal justice program. During his studies, he
became a member of the Alpha Beta Kappa
(ABK) National Honor Society, rising to further
distinction with induction into the ABK Hall of
Fame in 2010. Slater graduated in 2010 with an
Associate of Applied Business degree in
Criminal Justice.
program comprised of extensive therapy, school
and life skills classes.
He began his new career with the Ohio court
system, investigating unsafe homes for children.
Slater then joined the staff of The Village
Network, a residential foster care facility for
troubled youth, as a Resource Specialist in 2010.
Residents of the program come from abusive
homes to undergo a three-month rehabilitation
In November 2011, Slater won election to the
Board of Education in Massillon, Ohio, and took
office January 2012.
He credits Brown Mackie with his achievements
today. “Brown Mackie College — North Canton
offered me everything I needed to succeed
academically,” Slater said.
ACCELERATED GRADUATE PROGRAMS
park was covered with runners in medals,”
Cordes remembered. “My favorite moment was
crossing the finish line and seeing a man who
finished six seconds ahead of us drop to his
knee and propose to his girlfriend.”
Neither Cordes nor Reed is done running. Both
see more organized runs, as well as the training
that comes before them, in their futures.
CHILDREN’S ORGANIZATION GETS
FULL BENEFIT OF HALF MARATHON
streets cheering on the runners. “Savannah is
Amy Cordes and Greg Reed, admissions
representatives for South University, Savannah’s a beautiful city to run through. The energy of
the runners and crowds motivated us to keep
Accelerated Graduate Programs, were among
going,” Reed said. “We saw people running in
23,000 who completed the Rock ‘n’ Roll
Marathon on Nov. 5, 2011, in Savannah. The pair costumes and dresses, and Beetlejuice even
ran on behalf of the Greenbriar Children’s Center, passed us during the marathon.”
an organization that supports women and
This was the first half marathon for both runners.
children in need. Cordes and Reed completed
“We trained for six weeks to prepare for this
the 13.1-mile half marathon in two hours’ time.
run,” Cordes said. “I used to run in college, but
never ran farther than five miles. Training was a
“We decided to run on behalf of the Greenbriar
challenge, but I ended up performing better than
Children’s Center because South University has
I anticipated.”
an ongoing relationship with this cause,” Reed
explained. “So far, we have raised almost $800,
and we are still taking donations. We appreciate “We definitely exceeded our expectations,”
Reed said. “Surprisingly our last half of the
the support we have received from friends,
course was faster than our first half.”
family and South University staff to encourage
us and help the charity.”
The run ended at Forsyth Park, where
participants were given medals and treated to
The race began at 7:30 in the morning. Bands,
bananas, beverages and live music. “The entire
crowds and vendors lined the Savannah
Several other South University staff members
joined the 23,000 participants, including Jessica
Baumgardner, South University’s director of
housing at the Savannah campus; Ellen Hartman,
dean of student affairs for South University,
Virginia Beach; and Jacob Crawley, assistant
director of admissions for the Savannah campus.
admissions. “This was the total weight of
food worked and meals created during a
three-hour shift.”
AUSTIN
JUMPING INTO COMMUNITY
SERVICE IN AUSTIN
The first class of students may not have arrived
on the South University, Austin campus until
November 2011, but faculty and staff at the
campus did not wait until then to find ways to
get involved in the community of Texas’ capital
city — they jumped right in.
In fact, by June 2011, the staff had logged more
than 1,000 hours of service to philanthropic
organizations in the Austin area.
“I am very proud that we have been able to reach
so many Texans in need,” said President Marie
Neal. “What a great way to get the community
thinking about South University and the impact
we can have here in Austin.”
The organizations helped by the staff’s generous
support included the Capital Area Food Bank
of Texas, the Round Rock Area Serving Center,
Habitat for Humanity, libraries and schools.
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB)
was the largest single recipient of the group’s
outreach efforts. Being the largest hunger-relief
organization in Central Texas, the food bank
relies on volunteers to support its mission. In
its latest fiscal year, CAFB provided more than
24 million pounds of food to the hungry. Austin
campus volunteers helped out to the tune of
more than 500 hours in 2011.
Staff members focused their time in the
product recovery warehouse. This gave them a
behind-the-scenes look at how donations from
the community get to hungry Central Texans.
Volunteers inspected, cleaned, sorted, boxed
and made donations ready for distribution to
partner agencies and their clients.
“The most rewarding part of the shift came from
the volunteer coordinator announcing the totals,”
said Shannon Rutkowski, assistant director of
The Round Rock Area Serving Center
also benefitted from the caring hearts at
South University, Austin.
In early March, Assistant Director of Admissions
Shannon Rutkowski and Senior Financial Aid
Officer Steve McLemore teamed up to help
the Serving Center, as it is known. The Serving
Center consists of churches, other organizations
and individuals offering a helping hand with the
daily distribution of food, clothing and home
items to those in need in the city of Round Rock
and the surrounding areas. Working in the food
pantry, the team was able to distribute hundreds
of food items to further the pantry’s mission of
providing groceries.
The Austin campus has done so much for the
community this year, and many needy Texans
have been the ultimate beneficiaries of their
caring and hard work.
displayed excellent teamwork from the
beginning to the end.”
COLUMBIA
COLUMBIA CAMPUS CROSSES THE
(FINISH) LINE FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
It was a cold Saturday morning in Columbia
when students, faculty and staff from South
University, Columbia gathered at Providence
Presbyterian Church to participate in Habitat for
Humanity’s annual Hammer the Hills road race
on Oct. 8, 2011.
Over the course of a month, staff member
Nikki Hulion, with help from Aimeé Carter in
student affairs, informed students about the
race, ordered team T-shirts and compiled
“critical-thinking packets.”
President Greg Shields supported their efforts
and encouraged the faculty and staff to
participate in the event. The Columbia campus
team rounded up 65 team members who had
the option of a 5K walk or run. On race day, 46
participants volunteered their time and efforts to
support the growing charity while also engaging
their critical thinking skills.
Included in the critical-thinking packets was a
request for participants to comment on their
experience with the race. When asked why she
chose to participate in the charity race, Patrice
Edwards said, “What made me interested in
walking in the Habitat for Humanity event was
my love for helping other people and exercising
for my health.” A student at the time, Edwards
earned her Bachelor of Science in Graphic
Design in December 2011.
Barbara Best, a student earning her Doctor of
Pharmacy in pharmacy degree, shared a local
connection: “I am from the town in which
Habitat was founded, so when I saw the
opportunity to do something for them, I took
it and enjoyed walking for a good cause.”
Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
student Alvin Hightower was most proud of
his 5K run finish. “The students and faculty
This teamwork was demonstrated by the
faculty, staff and students cheering and
high-fiving each other as they crossed the
finish line, and by staff members who, after
completing the race, returned to the course
to motivate others as they neared their own
finish. The team even had a first-place finisher
in his age category: Dr. David Shoop, dean of
academic affairs, was awarded a hammer trophy
for his accomplishment.
The activity brought a philanthropic jolt to the
Columbia campus, whose faculty, staff and
students are already looking to become more
involved with Habitat for Humanity projects
and are creating a running and fitness club to
participate in similar activities.
MONTGOMERY
CHRISTMAS WISHES:
MONTGOMERY STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF
BOX THEM UP TO GO FOR AREA CHILDREN
The holiday season was filled with cheer in
Alabama, as the South University, Montgomery
campus fulfilled many a Christmas wish in 2011.
The campus again participated in Operation
Christmas Child, an annual project of Samaritan’s
Purse International Relief. Samaritan’s Purse is
a 40-year-old Christian organization providing
spiritual and physical aid to hurting people
around the world.
Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped
meet needs of people who are victims of
war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and
famine. Emergency relief programs provide
food, water and temporary shelter to meet
critical needs. Community development and
vocational programs in impoverished villages
and neighborhoods help people break the cycle
of poverty and provide hope for a better future.
Operation Christmas Child involves packing and
shipping individual shoe-box-size containers
with small toys for a boy or girl in age categories
2—4, 5—9 and 10—14. Preferred items include
small toys such as small cars, balls, dolls,
stuffed animals, musical instruments, yo-yos,
jump ropes, etc.; basic school supplies such as
pens, pencils, crayons, markers, writing pads,
calculators and coloring books; personal hygiene
items and non-perishable candy. Since 1993,
more than 94 million children in more than 130
countries have received a shoe box.
For 2011, Montgomery students filled 106 shoe
boxes with toys and other items (up from the 69
filled in 2010) and raised $742, which was more
than enough to cover the shipping costs for the
boxes. Students, faculty and staff donated, and
the campus also held special fund-raising efforts,
including the sale of a vintage doll on eBay.
Special thanks for the success of this initiative
go to Anna Pearson, director of admissions,
Pat McCormick, dean of student affairs, and to
the South University Good Samaritan Club, a
student community-service group.
Operation Christmas Child was a great success,
but the campus didn’t stop there with yuletide
charity. Students, faculty and staff also raised
money for children’s Christmas gifts and
collected Christmas dinner food donations for
three needy students’ families.
The South University chapter of the National
Technical Honor Society donated a large
(four-foot by two-foot) Christmas stocking filled
with toys, stuffed animals and clothing to both
the Family Sunshine Center and Save Kids of
Incarcerated Parents (SKIP).
Lastly, the Good Samaritan Club visited a
local nursing home before Christmas,
delivered 60 goodie bags with candy and
small gifts to the residents, and the school
dance team performed.
The spirit of the season truly glowed brightly
in Montgomery thanks to South University’s
generous efforts.
NOVI
NOVI STUDENTS TAKE A WALK
TO FIGHT LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE
Students, faculty and staff from the South
University, Novi campus joined in the Walk to
Defeat ALS in September 2011 at the newly
renovated Detroit River Walk.
The student ambassadors spearheaded
efforts to recruit members to form the team,
named South University Students Against ALS.
The team also organized a three-day bake sale
to raise funds. Personal contributions and bake
sale proceeds totaled more than $600 for the
team’s donation.
The walk raised more than $84,000 for the ALS
Association. These donations are vital in funding
research, patient and community services, and
education and awareness.
“We walk because we can. More importantly,
we walk because we care,” said student
Ashley Goldon. “The ALS walk energized
our Saturday, and walking as a team really
united us.” Ashley is president of the Student
Ambassador Organization and is pursuing a
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She expects to
graduate in 2013.
Established in 1985, The ALS Association
fights amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also
known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, on every front.
Funding goes toward global research, assistance
for people with ALS through a nationwide
network of chapters, multidisciplinary care
through certified clinical care centers, and
government partnerships.
The ALS Association builds hope and enhances
quality of life while aggressively searching for
new treatments and a cure. The association’s
nationwide network of chapters provides
comprehensive patient services and support
to the ALS community. The mission of the
association is to lead the fight to treat and cure
ALS through global cutting-edge research and
to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease
and their families to live fuller lives by providing
them with compassionate care and support.
brochures about how to prevent heart disease,
as well as red pins and bracelets to remind
people what the day was all about.
RICHMOND
RICHMOND STUDENTS WEAR
THEIR HEARTS ON THEIR SLEEVES
South University, Richmond showed its
heart this year with events that benefited
heart-related organizations.
and businesses from all around Greater
Richmond were represented and I am excited
that our students wanted to be a part of that.”
In October, the Student Activities Board
(SAB) and Student Veterans Association (SVA)
teamed up as members of both student groups
participated in a 5K walk to raise money and
awareness for those affected by heart disease.
In February 2012, the campus went red for
heart health. Students, faculty and staff started
the week off with several activities organized
by the SAB and Sigma Theta Tau, the Nursing
Honor Society. One activity was the American
Heart Association’s Go Red For Women. All over
campus, people were wearing red sweaters,
skirts and ties.
The campus’ fundraising efforts raised more
than $500 for the American Heart Association.
Family, friends, students, faculty and staff
all donated.
“It was a huge community celebration,” said
Dean of Student Affairs Kate Batten. “Schools
The American Heart Association is the largest
voluntary health organization working to prevent,
treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other
cardiovascular diseases. The SAB also gave out
In addition to promoting women’s heart
health, the SAB had arranged for Virginia Blood
Services’ mobile unit to be on hand for a blood
drive. Students, faculty and staff donated blood
in front of the Richmond campus. More than 4.5
million patients need blood transfusions each
year in the United States and Canada, where
43,000 pints of donated blood are used each day.
“The blood drive and heart health awareness
was planned exclusively by the SAB and Sigma
Theta Tau students and headed by Ronda Harris,
community service chair,” Batten said. “Our
students take their commitment to community
very seriously and I am proud of the efforts
they have put forth to mobilize the campus
in service.”
President Troy Ralston said, “It’s great to see
how civic-minded our students, staff and faculty
are; we encourage all to pursue ways to be
more active in the community, especially in
causes that help to save lives.”
fifth-grade readers, and 300 cover science for
sixth to eighth graders.
SAVANNAH
TODAY A READER, TOMORROW A LEADER —
SAVANNAH CAMPUS OPENS
HORIZONS FOR AREA CHILDREN
Ten Savannah nonprofit organizations are
the grateful recipients of 5,500 books for
schoolchildren thanks to the South University,
Savannah campus and Pearson Learning
Solutions (PLS). PLS is part of Pearson, a
provider of print and digital learning materials
and services.
The books, donated by PLS, started arriving in
July 2011, after Pearson and South University,
Savannah wanted to partner on a community
project. The organizations that received the
books were the West Broad Street YMCA, the
Youth Futures Foundation, Bethesda Academy,
Royce Learning Center, Greenbriar Children’s
Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Coastal
Empire, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, Park
Place Outreach Inc., and Mustard Seed
Faith Church.
“South University has a strong relationship with
many of these organizations, and we’re always
looking for ways to help out in the community,”
said President Todd Cellini. “Because of my
work with the West Broad Street Y, I knew they
needed books for their afterschool program, and
when I found out that Pearson was willing to
help, we started looking for other organizations
that had a need.”
Of the 5,500 books, 3,000 focus on sixth- to
eighth-grade math, 2,200 are for first- to
South University Bookstore Manager Craig
Tootle worked with Pearson representative
David Alevy, who was able to secure the
donation of books from PLS.
“Our motto at Pearson is to focus on three key
issues of social and economic importance:
worldwide literacy; learning outcomes for
students, educators and education systems;
and workplace skills,” said Alevy. “We often
say that for us, education means reaching out
and making a difference every day. It’s part of
our DNA.”
TAMPA
CANCER GETS BOWLED OVER
BY STUDENTS IN TAMPA
Students in the Physician Assistant (PA) Student
Society of the South University, Tampa campus
took aim at cancer with a “Bowling for Hope”
fundraising event in February. More than $4,500
from the event was raised for the H. Lee
Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated
to preventing and curing cancers of all types.
“I am extremely proud of the effort put forth
by everyone in the PA Student Society,” said
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
student Caitlin Michalak, president of both the
PA Student Society and the PA Class of 2013.
“We were glad to support the Moffitt Cancer
Center, a cause very near to the PA program at
theTampa campus.”
Not only do South University’s PA students
perform clinical rotations at Moffitt, but several
professors are in practice there as well.
The fundraiser, held at Splitsville in Tampa,
attracted more than 150 people. Ten six-person
teams of bowlers donated $35 each, and
spectators paid $20 to watch the tournament
and cheer the bowlers on as “alley cats.”
The winning team won restaurant gift cards and
bottles of wine.
But the excitement was not contained to the
bowling lanes. Players from the Tampa Bay Rays
baseball team showed up to support the cause,
including All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria,
as well as B.J. Upton, David Price, Sean
Rodriguez, Jake McGee and Wade Davis.
A popular activity for bowlers and spectators
alike was the silent auction, where gift
certificates and sports memorabilia attracted
substantial interest. Tampa Bay’s professional
teams were well represented, with auction
items from the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays
proving popular.
It is easy to see why support for the Moffitt
Cancer Center is so important. Moffitt has made
a lasting commitment to the prevention and
cure of cancer, working tirelessly in the areas of
patient care, research and education. As part of
an elite group of National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Moffitt focuses
on the development of early stage translational
research aimed at the rapid translation of
scientific discoveries to benefit patient care.
Thanks to the South University, Tampa campus,
the PA Student Society and the Tampa
community, Moffitt is able to advance one step
further in fighting this disease.
VIRGINIA BEACH
TAKIN’ IT TO THE BANK
IN VIRGINIA BEACH
It’s not easy being hungry any time of year, but
the holiday season is especially tough for some
people. Seeing an increased need for donations
to their regional food bank, the South University,
Virginia Beach campus took action.
spearheaded the effort, with assistance from
Richard Kriofsky, senior director of admissions
and Ellen Hartman, dean of student affairs.
Collection bins were placed in the library and
front reception area.
Students, faculty and staff joined together to
collect non-perishable food items for the first
South University food drive competition. The
Virginia Beach campus collected 692 pounds
of food and donated it all to the Foodbank of
Southeastern Virginia.
The campus also got a little help from Norfolkbased radio station 104.5. While 104.5 may be
known as “The 757 Party Station,” they took
community service seriously and helped support
the drive. The station even came to campus for
a celebration on Nov. 17, 2011, the last day of
the food drive. 104.5 broadcasted from campus
for the finale. The DJs hung out, played music
and spoke with students.
The food drive took place over the course
of two weeks. The Student Activities Board
The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia was
founded in 1981 as a clearinghouse for food
for the disadvantaged. Since its inception, the
food bank has distributed more than 221 million
pounds of food directly and through partner
agencies within the community. The location
of the food bank has changed over the years
but the mission has not, which is to educate
the public on hunger issues and to end hunger
within the community.
homeowner, but it takes volunteers to do
the work.
WEST PALM BEACH
WEST PALM BEACH VOLUNTEERS
PAINT THEIR HEARTS OUT
Volunteers from the South University, West
Palm Beach campus helped a family out this
year by painting a house using free paint from
the Solid Waste Authority’s Paint Your Heart
Out program. Students, faculty and staff gave
their time to spruce up Marien Serna’s
Westgate home.
“This was my first time doing something like
this,” said Elizabeth Caron, coordinator of the
campus’ Academic Improvement Center. “It
was hot and we got very messy, but it was
worthwhile to know we helped out a family.
It was also a great bonding experience for us
as volunteers.”
While the family’s father had to work, the
mother painted alongside the volunteers.
The Palm Beach Post, reporting on the effort,
noted that the house was painted so fast that
the volunteers “seemed like characters in a
sped-up video.”
“That’s not surprising,” said Linda Moreno, who
coordinates the program for the Solid Waste
Authority (SWA) and was present for all five
hours of the painting.
“It’s amazing how quickly it happens with
so many helping,” Moreno said. “It was a
great group.”
Paint Your Heart Out paints the exterior of
qualifying single-family homes with the SWA’s
paint. The paint, more than 7,000 gallons
last year alone, is 100 percent recycled. The
program helps families in need at no cost to the
South University, West Palm Beach’s volunteers
were happy to assist the family, but all agreed
that it was not easy.
Jessica Renard, director of career services, put
it well: “Now I know why house painters charge
so much!”
Starting “from scratch,” La’Sondrick grew
Columbia’s CBM program to include 75 mentors
helping around 90 young people in about a year.
La’Sondrick said that mentoring is all about
compassion and showing an unselfish concern
for the welfare of others.
“You have to look past where the kids come
from and look to where they can go,” he said.
“They want to be challenged. More than that,
they want to know you care.”
BRIDGES TO SUCCESS
Working as a football and basketball coach at
C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South
Carolina, La’Sondrick Bridges came across many
students from low-income families. Many of
these students lived in a household without a
male role model, and La’Sondrick was naturally
drawn to advising them when they came to him
for help.
In March 2011, La’Sondrick applied for the job
of program manager with CBM and was hired
to lead CBM efforts in the Columbia area. A few
months later, La’Sondrick earned his Master
of Business Administration (MBA) degree
in Business Administration from the South
University, Columbia campus and was able to
put his business skills to immediate use.
His success mentoring these students led to his
involvement with Concerned Black Men (CBM),
a nonprofit organization supported in part by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
that aims to provide positive male role models
to youth.
La’Sondrick works with budgets, contracts,
statistical analysis and many other concepts he
mastered at South University — even employee
relations skills, because after recruiting new
mentors, the mentors must go through training
and pass a background check before they are
matched with a mentee.
La’Sondrick has been able to do all this
even while running his own business as
an independent distributor of nutritional
supplements. Looking back on his experience at
South University, La’Sondrick has no regrets.
“I was impressed with the professors in the
MBA program,” he said. “They really care about
you and want you to academically succeed.”
The youth in La’Sondrick’s mentoring program
may find that attitude quite familiar.
WESTERN STATE COLLEGE OF LAW WORKS
WITH PUBLIC LAW CENTER TO MEET
LEGAL NEEDS OF UNDERREPRESENTED
Western State College of Law students and
faculty are making a difference in Orange
County, dedicating their time and talents
throughout the year as volunteers with the
Public Law Center.
The Public Law Center, Orange County’s pro
bono law firm, is committed to providing
access to justice for low-income residents.
Through volunteers and staff, the Public Law
Center (PLC) provides free civil legal services,
including counseling, individual representation,
community education, and strategic litigation
and advocacy to challenge societal injustices.
Now in its 30th year of service, PLC works with
nearly 1,200 volunteer lawyers, paralegals and
law students from throughout the county who
volunteer their time and expertise.
In 2010 alone, PLC staff and volunteers
provided 47,305 hours of free legal services in
handling more than 4,500 cases, serving more
than 18,000 low-income children, adults and
seniors in Orange County. Volunteers for the
organization included partners at major Orange
County law firms, sole practitioners, young
lawyers, law students, college students and an
array of others concerned about ensuring access
to justice.
Most importantly, PLC provides Orange County
attorneys with the opportunity to help make
sure that access to civil justice is available to
all. PLC offers many different types of pro bono
work for potential volunteers, whether they are
in large firms or small firms, sole practitioners,
litigators or transactional lawyers, or law
students. Their work includes private attorney
referral, taking part in the Orange County
Human Trafficking Coalition, offering community
legal clinics, partnering with St. Joseph Health
System through a program called Family
Advocates and through its other programs,
which include the Southeast Asian Legal
Outreach Project, AIDS Legal Assistance Project,
Community Organizations Legal Assistance
Project and Impact Advocacy.
“The Public Law Center opens access to justice
for those who are most vulnerable to injustice.
Our collaborative relationship with them has
exposed our students to the need and desire to
give back to the community through the legal
profession and has provided them with valuable
real-world experience while helping to meet
critical legal needs in the community,” said
Western State College of Law Dean Bill Adams.
Hundreds of organizations benefit
from the work of EDMC schools.
The following is a partial list:
211 Broward
2nd Harvest Food Bank, Nashville
4Kids of South Florida, the Miami
Dolphins Foundation
A Million Thanks
A.C.E. Agency for Community Empowerment
Abandoned Pet Rescue, Fort Lauderdale
Action AIDS
Adopt a Family Palm Beach County
Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Foundation
AID Gwinnett
AIDS Alliance, Atlanta
Akron Children’s Hospital
Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank
Alameda Food Bank
Alaskan Leader Foundation
Alcoholics Anonymous, Atlanta
Aliah Sweet Fragile Hearts Foundation
Alliance of the Streets
Alms Christian Church
ALS Association of Georgia
Alzheimer’s Association
American Advertising Federation of Tucson
American Associates, Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev
American Business Clubs (AMBUCS)
American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society, Ft. Wayne Chapter
American Cancer Society, Indianapolis
American Culinary Federation
American Diabetes Association
American Heart Association
American Heart Association of Utah
American Heart Association, Portland
and SW Washington
American House Hazel Park
American Institute of Graphic Arts
American Institute of Wine and Food,
Monterey Bay Chapter
American Lung Association in California
American President’s Council of Motorcycle
Clubs and Organizations
American Red Cross
American Rose Society
American Sleep Apnea Association
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (ASPCA)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA)
Angel Tree
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
Arizona Media Arts Center
Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.
Art Studio Miami
Artful Aging
Asera Care Home Health and Hospice, Indianapolis
Ashby House
Asia America Initiative
Asian Chamber of Commerce
Asian Pacific American Heritage Association
Atlanta Day Shelter
Atlanta Veteran’s Center
Austin Chamber of Commerce
Austin Habitat for Humanity
Austin Partners in Education
Autism Society of Treasure Valley
Autism Speaks
Aviva Children’s Services-Tucson
Bar Camp Philly
Barkitecture
Battered Women’s Shelter
Beacon Presbyterian Church
Bessie Coleman Foundation
Bethesda Academy
Betts Longworth Community Organization
Betty Griffin House Domestic Violence Shelter
Bicycle Collective
Big Brother Big Sister
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Coastal Empire
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Warren
and Clinton Counties
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties
Big Family of Michigan
Black Pine Animal Sanctuary
Bloomington Fine Arts Council
Blue Santa Campaign
Bonnet House
Booker Middle School
Boy Scouts of America
Boys & Girls Club of Central Alabama
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento
Boys & Girls Club of Fort Wayne, IN
Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee
Bread of Life
Breasties
Brent’s Place
Bridge Run
Bridge to Freedom Foundation
Bridges for a Just Community
Brookline Climate Week
Broward County Detention Center
Broward County Pediatric Society
Business for Culture and the Arts,
Portland, Oregon
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
California Courts of Appeal
California Restaurant Association
California Women’s Leadership Association, Rialto
Camillus House
Can Anything Good Come Out of the Hood
Cancer Care
Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc.
Canstruction
Capitol Area Food Bank
Career Closet
Carter BloodCare
Casa de la Familia
CASA of LaPorte
Cats Exclusive
Center for Accessible Living
Center for Homeless
Center for the Blind
Central Business District Association Internship Day
Central Virginia Foodbank
Charleston Children’s Museum
Charleston Development Academy
Charleston Film Festival
Charleston Local Development Corporation
Charleston Moves
Charleston Peninsula Task force
Charleston Wine & Food Festival
Chef & Child Foundation
Chef ’s Feast
Children First
Children First Academy
Children of Inmates Foundation
Children’s Home Society Presents An Evening of Taste
Children’s Miracle Network
Children’s Guardian Fund
Children’s Home Society
Children’s Home Society of Florida
Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters
Christian County Chamber of Commerce
Christian Service Mission
Christmas in Action of Oakland County
Christopher House
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and
Recreation Department
City of Hope
City of McKees Rocks
City of Refuge, Inc
City of San Bernardino
City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation
City of Santa Monica Woodlawn Cemetery
City of Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council
City of Tampa Police Department
Clara White Mission
Clean Up and Green Up
Cleveland Eye Bank
Coats for Kids
Colorado Black Arts Festival
Colorado Center for Community Development
Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association
Colorado Organization for the Treatment
of Opioid Dependence
Columbia City Shelter
Coming Together Stark County
Community Blood Centers of the West Palm Beach area
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Community Food Security Coalition
Community Harvest Food Bank
Community Warehouse
Compassion21
Compton Unified School District
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Cookie Cart
Copper Pointe Church
Cotton Club Bakery Competition for
Junior Achievement
Council of Korean American Leaders
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Counseling4Kids
County of San Bernardino Department of
Behavioral Health Commission
Cradles To Crayons
Cranes for Kids, Osh Kosh, Inc.
Creative Beginnings Child Development Center
Crisis Center
Crisis City
Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Crossroads Christian Church-Backpack Mission
Crossroads Community Ministries
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
d’Art Center
Dare to Care
Dell Children’s Hospital
Department of Economic Security-Veteran
Outreach Program
Diabetes Walk
Dignity U Wear
Dining with Friends
Diocese of Covington Development Roundtable
Doctors Without Borders
Domestic Violence Association
Donate Life America
Dress for Success
Dress for Success Charlotte
Eagle-Net Alliance Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain Inc.
Earth Day San Francisco
Easter Seals of Louisville
Easter Seals of North Georgia
Education Foundation
Emerald Nights Event
Emmanuel House
Episcopal Housing Corporation
Erie Kennel Club AKC
Evolution Women
Fairchild Gardens
Family Sunshine Center
Farrington Foundation
Feed the Need
Feeding America Tampa Bay
Firestone High School
First Coast Higher Education Alliance
First Coast No More Homeless Pets
First Place School
First Ward Elementary School
Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry
Fisher House -Donation
Florida Attorney General’s Office
Florida Blood Services
Florida Coalition for the Homeless
Florida Inter Generational Orchestra
Florida Youth Orchestra
Focus on Females Women’s
Healthcare Symposium
Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
For Arts’ Sake Sacramento
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach
Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control
Fort Wayne for Fitness Health Fair
Fort Worth Independent School District
Francis House
Francis Slocum Elementary School
Free Arts for Abused Children
Free Arts Minnesota
Free Store Food Bank
Freedom Walk 5K
French-American Chamber of Commerce
Fresenius Dialysis Clinics
Fresh Start Women’s Foundation
Friends of WLRN (NPR)
FXSS Fashion by South Side for Boselli Foundation
Galleria Chamber of Commerce
Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention
Genesis Express
Georgetown Soup Kitchen
Girl Scouts
Gleaner’s Community Food Bank of Southeastern
Michigan
Global Campus Africa
Global Visionaries
Gold Coast Jazz Society
Goodwill Industries of Seattle
Grady Rape Crisis Center
Grammy U
Grant County Cancer Services
Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Greater Stark County Urban League
Greenbriar Children’s Center
Greyhound Adoption of NE Ohio
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Builders
Hadassah The Womens Zionist Organization of
America - Sunnyvale
Hampton Roads Student Gallery
Hancock County Humane Society
Hancock County United Way
Hands on Greenville
Harbor House
Harvest Hope
Harvesters Food Collection
Hawthorne Elementary
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of
Georgia
Heart of the City Farmers’ Market
Henderson Behavioral Health Center
Henrico Education Foundation
High Road for Human Rights
HMEF Scholarship Fund
Hokendaqua American Legion
Holiday Hope
Home Instead Senior Care
Homeless Helping Homeless
Hoover Fire Department Camp Conquest
for Burn Victims
Hope Chest
Hope for Kids/Full Armor Mentors
Hope House
Hope Mission
Hospice of Summit County
Hospitality Educators Association of Texas
Houston Area Consortium of Career Centers
Houston Bar Association
Houston Food Bank
Houston International Chamber of Commerce
Human Rights Campaign
Humane Society
Humane Society of Charlotte
Humane Society of Indianapolis
Humility of Mary Housing
Huntington County Humane Society
I Am Second
I Heart Denver Store
Idaho Humane Society
Idaho Occupational Therapy Association
Idaho Youth Ranch/Hays School
Impact NW
Independent Cat Society
Indiana Black Expo, Inc.
Indiana Uploaded
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indy Film Fest
Inland AIDS Project
Inside Out Theatre Company
Interior Design Continuing Education
Council (IDCEC)
International Interior Design Association (IIDA),
North Florida Chapter
IT Discovery Network/Advance IT Minnesota
Jacksonville Fashion Week
Jacksonville Film Festival
Jacksonville Police Athletic League
JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
Jerusalem House
Jewish Family and Children’s Services,
Northern California
Jimmie Hale Mission and Jessie’s Place
Job Corps
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Judeo-Christian Outreach Center
Julian Center, Indianapolis
Julie Valentine Center
Junior Achievement - Rocky Mountain Inc.
Juvenile Diabetes
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
KAPOW Foundation
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Kentucky Occupational Therapy
Associate Organization
Kids’ Turn
Kling Center
Knights of Columbus
Knowledge Bowl - American Culinary Federation
Komen Foundation
Lansdowne Public Library
LaPorte County Family YMCA
Lee Davis Neighborhood Service Center
Leg Up Farm
Lena Pope Home
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light
The Night Walk
Life Bank
Life Share Community Blood Services
Life Treatment
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers
Light the Night
Lighthouse of Oakland County
Lincoln Day Care
Lincoln Elementary School
Literacy Program
Local Early Childhood Care Centers
Loma Linda Hospital
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
Loudoun County Head Start
Love146
Luna Mystics Rescue Ranch
Lutheran Child and Family Services
Lynnhaven Baseball
MacDonald Training Center
Make-A-Wish Foundation
March of Dimes
March of Dimes, Georgia
March of Dimes, Northeast Florida
March of Dimes, Tampa Bay
Maria Droste Services
Marian Prichet High School
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Marjorie Book Continuing Education Society
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
Meals on Wheels
Mental Health Center of Denver
Mercy Corps
Mercy Miami Hospital
Metro Atlanta Recovery Residences
Metro United Way
Metropolitan Ministries
Miami Children’s Hospital
Miami Habitat for Humanity
Miami Organ Transplant Foundation
Miami Rescue Mission
Michiana Humane Society
Miracle Marrow Matches
Miracle on May Street
Mitochondrial Foundation
Mobile Meals Of Tucson
Moffitt Cancer Center
Motivational Edge
Movember Foundation
Mozel Sanders Foundation, Indianapolis
MS Society of North Florida
Mt. Calvary
Mt. Calvary Baptist Church
Muddy River Festival
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
Muncie Library
Museum of Science History Project
MusiCares
Mustard Seed Faith Church
Myers Center
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Council for Interior Design
National Downs Syndrome Congress
National Marrow Donor Program
National MS Society
Natural Born Artists
Nature’s Nursery Walk
New Hope Center
New Hope Housing
New Life Ministries
Non-Profit Technology
Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norman Film Studios Silent Film Museum Project
North Coast Behavioral Center
North Shore Hospital
Northern Spark
Northshore Animal League
Novi Youth Assistance Center
Oakwood and South County Psychiatric Facilities
Off the Wall Gallery
Ombu, South Beach Clean Up
One by One Cat Rescue
One Love One Community Juneteenth Celebration
One of a Kind Pet
One Warm Coat
OOTA Pediatric
Operation Christmas Child
Operation: Kid Equip
Orange High School
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America
Oregon Poet Laureate
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Our Daily Bread, St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Outside In
p:ear
PACT Bradley Center
Paint Your Heart Out
Painting for Miracles
Palmetto Palace
Palms West Children Hospital
Parent University of Savannah and Chatham County
Park Place Outreach Center
Parkinson’s Foundation
Parkview Services
Parkwood Elementary
Partnership Against Domestic Violence
Partnership for Community Action
Paw Creek Elementary School
Paws and Stripes
PAWS Animal Shelter
Pearl District Business Association
Pearson Foundation
Pencil Foundation
Philadelphia Interagency Coordinating Council
Pink Dot Utah
Portage County Animal Protective League
Portland Farmers Market
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
Portland PC Users Group
Portland Rescue Mission
Post Alley Film Festival
Prevent Child Abuse
Pride Houston, Inc.
Primavera Foundation
Professional Women’s Group Dress for Success
Tampa Bay
Project Re-Cycle
Project Turnabout
Public Relations Society of America
Purpose Ministry Church, Indianapolis
Quad City Arts
Quantum Leap Farms
Radiant Research
Raphael House
Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky
Real Food Rising
Red Cross LaPorte County
Regional Arts & Culture Council
Rescued Pets are Wonderful
Rialto Unified School District
Richmond Public Library
Riverside City Attorney’s Office
Riverside Fine Arts Community
Road Runner Food bank
Rolling Hill’s Adventure Park
Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House, Atlanta
Ronald McDonald House, Miami
Ronald McDonald House, Philadelphia
Roots in the City
Rose Garden Mission
Rotary Club
Rotary Club of Hampton Roads
Round Rock Area Serving Center
Round Rock Public Library
Royal Palm Beach Covenant Church
Royal Palm Beach Food Pantry
Royce Learning Center
Rumpshaker, Inc.
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services
Rutherford County Books
S.E.E.K. Arizona
Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter
SafePlace
Salina Animal Shelter
Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
Salina Area United Way
Salina Food Bank
Salina Human Resources Management Association
Salvation Army
Salvation Army Center of Hope Women’s Shelter
San Diego Youth Services
San Francisco Community School
San Francisco District Attorney’s Office
San Marco Preservation Society
Sanctuary Holy Cross
Sandcastle Shelter
Santa Monica Airport
Sarah Cannon Breast Cancer Research Institute
Sarasota Education Foundation
Sauvie Island Center
Savannah CrimeStoppers Azalea Run
Savannah Histroy Museum’s Night at the Museum
Savannah Rock & Roll Marathon Series
Saving Kids of Incarcerated Parents
SCAN (Stop Child Abuse & Neglect)
SCARE for a CURE
SCORE-Greater Phoenix Chapter
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San
Mateo Counties
Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee
Second Helpings
Shadarobah Horse Rescue
Shake-a-Leg Foundation
Share Our Strength
Sharing and Caring Hands
Shelter House, Inc.
Skip-a-Long Daycare
So Many Angels Ball for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
South Florida Urban Ministries
South Philadelphia Food Co-op
South West YMCA
Southeastern Young Alumni Charitable Organization
Southern Care Home Health and
Hospice, Indianapolis
Southern Care Hospice
Sox Place
Special Olympics
Special Olympics North Carolina
Spring Independent School District Foundation
St. Ann’s Outreach Center
St. Baldrick’s Foundation
St. Francis
St. John’s Military Academy
St. Joseph Church
St. Joseph The Worker
St. Joseph’s Holy Name Society
St. Jude Research Hospital
St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance
St. Petersburg Free Clinic
St. Timothy Catholic Church
St. Vincent De Paul
Stark Social Workers Network
Stepping Stone Shelter for Women
Suicide Prevention Action Network of Georgia
Sulzbacher Center
Sunrise Symphonic Pops Orchestra
Surgery on Sunday, Inc.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen Foundation
Susan G. Komen of North Central Alabama
Symphony of the Americas
Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Taste of the Wasatch
Taylor House
TC Wallace Foundation
Teddy’s Rescue
Teen Parent South at South County Career Center
Temple Israel Charities
Tender Mercies, Inc.
Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
Tennessee Occupational Therapy
Associate Organization
Texas Children’s Hospital
The Amanda Foundation
The Blood Alliance
The Center for International Environmental Law
The Chapel Church
The Charis House for Women and Children
The Children’s Home
The Children’s Pediatric Center at Broward
General Medical center
The Colorado Celebration of African-American
Arts and Culture
The Community Back to School Bash
The Cove Clinic
The Denver Art Society
The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art
The Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy
The Kentucky Humane Society
The Landing Theatre Company
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,
North Carolina Chapter
The Link, Inc.
The Logan Center
The Lord’s Rose Garden
The Los Angeles County Department of Public
Health Project RENEW
The LOT Project
The Lotus Center for Self Discovery
The Red Devils
The Road Home
The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree
The Sanctuary House
The Spring of Tampa Bay
The Sunshine School
The Women’s Cancer Programs of the
Entertainment Industry Foundation
The Women’s Center
Third Temple Organization
To Write Love on Her Arm
Toys for Tots
Tucson Festival of Books
Turnstone Pediatric Rehabilitation Center
U.S. Army National Guard Judge Advocate
General Corps
U.S. Postal Service
UNCF 100 Men That Can Cook
Union Mission Ministries
United Against Puppy Mills
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham
United States Army
United States Army Family Readiness Group
United Way
United Way, Quad Cities
University of Minnesota Community-University
Healthcare Center
University Park Nursing & Rehabilitation
Upper Moreland High School
Urban League
Urban League of Hampton Roads
Urban Strategies
USDA Summer Lunch Program
Utah Clean Air Campaign
VA Hospital of Detroit
Veterans Administration
Veterinary Medical Association
Villa Hills Civic Club
Volunteer Connection
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Volunteers Outdoor Colorado
WACS (World Association of Chefs Societies)
Waiting on a Cure
Walk for Autism
Walk Now for Autism Speaks
Walking Fish Theater
Washington Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction
Wayside Christian
WBCO Head Start
West Broad Street YMCA
Western Kentucky Blood Bank
Western State College of Law Immigration
Law Clinic
Whitley County Humane Society
Whole Foods Whole Kids Foundation
Wildlife Protection Society
Willowbrook Middle School
Wimauma Family Health Center
Women of Tomorrow
Women Who Build: Habitat for Humanity of
Northern Virginia
WordPress Foundation
World Wide Day of Play
WSOS Head Start
X-Stream Clean-Up
YESS Camp
YMCA
YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne
Young Audiences New York
Young Life
Young Professionals Association of Louisville
Youth Futures Foundation
YWCA Women’s Shelter of Ft. Wayne, IN
The Art Institutes system of schools: http://www.artinstitutes.edu
Accreditation & Licensing: http://www.artinstitutes.edu/accreditation-and-licensing.aspx
Since The Art Institutes is comprised of several institutions, see aiprograms.info for program duration,
tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success and other important info.
Argosy University: http://www.argosy.edu
Accreditation & Licensing: http://www.argosy.edu/about-us/accreditation-licensing.aspx
See auprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary
data, alumni success and other important info.
Brown Mackie College system of schools: http://www.brownmackie.edu
Accreditation & Licensing: http://www.brownmackie.edu/why-brown-mackie-college/accreditation.aspx
Since Brown Mackie College is comprised of several institutions, see bmcprograms.info for program
duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success and other
important info.
South University: http://www.southuniversity.edu
Accreditation & Licensing: http://www.southuniversity.edu/about/accreditation.aspx
See suprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary
Western State College of Law: http://www.wsulaw.edu
Accreditation & Licensing: http://www.wsulaw.edu/about-us/accreditation.aspx
See wsuprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary
argosy.edu
brownmackie.edu
southuniversity.edu
wsulaw.edu
THE COMMON THREAD
artinstitutes.edu
CONNECTING WITH THE WORLD IS IN OUR DNA
THE COMMON THREAD
2012

connecting with the world is in our dna

Transcription

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