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"In recognition of your leadership integrating powerful learning and
meaningful service for students, and strengthening reciprocal community partnerships."
— Carmen Sigler, Provost
Sunday Friends has won the San Jose State University Provost's Award for Excellence in Service Learning as a Community Partner.
Each year, the Center For Service Learning, under the leadership of Professor Michael Fallon, celebrates the efforts of students, faculty and community partner organizations in combining education, meaningful volunteerism and community enrichment. We are pleased to announce that Sunday Friends was selected in the community partner category among several worthy community partners for this distinction.
We are equally gratified to acknowledge the nomination of two of our most outstanding volunteer leaders, Thuy Le and Nga Nguyen.
“Sunday Friends has shown dedication, commitment and devotion
to its clients and its
partnership with SJSU.”
— Mayra Cerda, Center for Service-Learning
Nomination for the Provost's Award for Excellence in Service-Learning
From a professor at San Jose State University (reprinted with
permission):
The purpose of including Service-Learning in the curriculum for my Business 160
class was to provide students with a working team experience within a
real organization. I expected that, through Sunday Friends, my students would gain
valuable team process experience, while at the same time, contributing
to the community. I was much impressed by what the students had to say about their experience with Sunday Friends and the Sunday Friends organization as a whole.
In written executive summaries of their experiences, team members cited experiencing a profound impact from working with Sunday Friends. From being able to use higher education to help those less fortunate, to simply appreciating what one has, and not taking things for granted, students reported gaining valuable life
experiences and perspectives.
In addition, Sunday Friends' coordinators displayed so much enthusiasm and passion
for the organization's mission that the students felt compelled to put
forth their best effort, extending beyond simply meeting class requirements. This kind of
infectious motivation is truly unique and deserves recognition.
Students also commented on the seamless process by which Sunday Friends' coordinators were able to incorporate new volunteers into the delivery of services. The ability for an organization to quickly integrate new people (especially those who have other motives beyond the organization's mission) is indicative of a solid, well-run organization. In this regard, Sunday Friends succeeded in providing students with a real life learning example of what normally is only theory.
Sunday Friends not only helps meet the immediate needs of low-income families, but also contributes to the community at large through promoting self-esteem and self-confidence. Service-Learning students witnessed first-hand the positive impact that an increased self-worth can have on individuals and families.
Finally, I am much impressed with the gratitude expressed to my students by Sunday Friends' coordinators. I received a letter of gratitude for my students' participation and student teams received handwritten notes from coordinators, thanking them for their service. From a Business 160, organizational standpoint, I found Sunday Friends' leadership congruent to its organizational mission and values.
It is because of the great contribution Sunday Friends makes to the community, along with its exemplary organizational example to Service-Learning students, that I nominate Sunday Friends for the Provost's Award for Excellence in Service-Learning.
Truly,
Joyce Osland, Ph.D.
College of Business, Organization and Management
San Jose State University
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