The very best in Michigan's service-learning community are receiving Outstanding Service-Learning Awards, a statewide honor presented by the Michigan Community Service Commission and Learn and Serve - Michigan.  Four recipients representing a teacher/practitioner, innovative service-learning program, school administrator, and student will be honored with the awards. 

The 2008 award recipients:        

Greg Webster of Brethren and superintendent of the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District is receiving the Administrator Award.  This award is presented to an administrator who has served as a model of leadership for service-learning.  Greg demonstrates a vision for service-learning and advances the practice through education and advocacy.  He approaches problems as opportunities for innovation and as a result has revitalized his community from the grassroots.  Through his leadership, service-learning professional development programs have become the norm in his district, encouraging teachers to continually seek relevant means for reaching all students.  Service-learning projects in the district have included park restoration, the development of a co-op art gallery, the creation of a welcome center and a railroad depot restoration.  These projects have all become legacies of Greg Webster's service-learning efforts.

The Literacy Corps at Tinkham Alternative High School in Westland is receiving the Innovative Program Award.  This award honors a K-12 service-learning program demonstrating innovation and excellence.  The Literacy Corps incorporates key elements of high-quality service-learning and has a sustainable impact on the students and the community.  The Literacy Corps enhances students' academic and personal success and helps them improve their literacy skills by tutoring and mentoring elementary students.  Students are trained to create effective lesson plans based on the younger students needs through this service-learning course.  The Literacy Corps participants complete a six-week training program before traveling to the elementary school, where they meet with students for 45 minutes, three times per week.

Katherine Johnson of Lake Orion and a senior at Lake Orion High School is receiving the Student Award.  Katherine demonstrates leadership in the development and implementation of service-learning in her district and demonstrates initiative and creativity in service-learning participation.  Katherine has been involved in service-learning activities at her school, in her district, and on a statewide level.  She has developed many service-learning projects throughout her junior and senior years with most benefiting younger students.  Katherine has worked with principals and teachers to develop ways to make service-learning projects fit their schedules and has recruited and motivated students to participate with her.

Joy McFadyen of Bay City and a fifth-grade teacher at Hampton Elementary School is receiving the Teacher/Practitioner Award.  The award is presented to a teacher who has served as a model of leadership.  Joy helps nurture others in the field expand their service-learning knowledge and skills.  She has involved her students in science-based service-learning for many years.  Joy's students have supported water quality monitoring of the Saginaw Bay through the Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN).  To demonstrate mastery of the content, students presented their water quality findings to community members at the annual River Congress.  Joy makes science relevant by engaging students in the research, development, and maintenance of local rain gardens.  They planted nearly 3,000 native plants in the local rain gardens with the help of more than 500 students and community volunteers.

Learn and Serve - Michigan, administered by the Michigan Community Service Commission, is part of the Learn and Serve America grant program supported by the Corporation for National and Community service.  The MCSC funds the development and implementation of high-quality service-learning programs in K-12 schools.

The Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities through volunteerism.  In 2007-08, the MCSC is granting more than $5.6 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities.

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