Civic Engagement Awards Announced

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The Center for Community Service-Learning will host its annual Community Mixer on Tuesday, April 21, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Bronco Student Center, where it will recognize this year's winners of the Civic Engagement Awards. The awards honor faculty, students, staff and community partners who have contributed to the community through active participation and provided meaningful service, as well as fulfilled the university's academic goals.

The awards are presented to one faculty member, one staff member, one student, one student organization, one department and one community partner. This year's award winners are:

Community Award of Excellence: Ontario-Montclair Unified School District

Ontario-Montclair Unified School District has partnered with Cal Poly Pomona students from the Kinesiology and Health Promotion Department. For more than 30 years, the district has provided opportunities for students to observe and complete required service hours in a public school setting. Ontario-Montclair Unified also provides sites and mentoring for student teachers in Adapted Physical Education.  The “hands-on” experiences are an invaluable element of students' education.

Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Engagement: Bernardo Solano, Theatre

Bernardo Solano has partnered with the Pomona Unified School District for six years to create a Peer Theatre Program. His courses join Cal Poly Pomona students and junior and senior students from Pomona Unified to collaborate on creating plays based on real life issues. Solano is a nationally recognized leader in community based theater, having written plays with the Cornerstone Theatre Company. He also spearheads the new Theatre for Education and Community option and continues to be an innovator in the pedagogy of service-learning.

Staff Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement: Ty Ramsower

Ty Ramsower serves as the Coordinator of Health Promotions and Outreach in Student Health Services.  He is an active board member of the Foothill AIDS Project, which serves those affected by and at risk for HIV infection. Ramsower also serves on the Advisory Board for the California Physical Education and Healthy Project Policy Board, where he supports students and educators in leading physically active lifestyles.

Student Organization Award for Civic Engagement: Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

The California Mu Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity devoted more than 1,000 volunteer hours to the 2008 LA County Fair. Fraternity members acted as tour guides to children, greeters to fair visitors, and worked as guest services representatives. The fraternity also dedicated more than 200 hours to the Pomona Beautification Project.

Department Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement: Ethnic and Women's Studies

The Ethnic and Women's' Studies Department requires students to perform 50 hours of community service-learning. In 2006-07, the department reported that 11 faculty members, 30 classes and 710 students participated in community service-learning. Faculty members are very passionate about civic engagement and organize projects such as the Dia de los Muertos event and the Cesar E. Chavez Day of Service-Learning.

Student Award for Civic Leadership: Phi Su

Phi Su is Vice President for Community Service for the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society and is very involved in on- and off-campus community activities. She has assisted with Family Fun Days, which is coordinated through the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center, and helped with voter registration through the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. In addition, Su has volunteered in the GIS Mapping Project to produce a directory of Asian and Pacific Islander service organizations in the Inland Empire.

For more information, visit https://academic.cpp.edu/ccsl/.