The Center for Community Service-Learning honored three individuals and two groups for their outstanding work in the community, helping to bring about positive social change, integrating service-learning into academic curriculum and encouraging others be engaged. The awards were presented April 6 at the annual Campus-Community Mixer.
The winners of the 2010 Civic Engagement Awards are:
Christina Chavez-Reyes, Department of Liberal Studies
Faculty Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement
Christina Chavez-Reyes has been instrumental in training student mentors and workshop facilitators for the Buenanueva Foundation through her liberal studies course. She is also part of an academic women’s collective focused on service-learning curriculum and scholarship. She has been the leader in revising the curriculum of liberal studies courses so that service-learning has become an integral component of the department.
Gloria Castillo, Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers
Staff Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement
Gloria Castillo works as the administrative support coordinator for the Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers. She has served as a lead coordinator in providing more than $10,000 in food, clothes and supplies to the indigenous people of Baja, Calif. She has also assisted a homeless shelter in Pomona with more than $2,000 in food and toiletries.
Pomona Public Library
Community Partner Award of Excellence
Through the Big Read project promoting literacy for all ages and the Homework Help Center, the Pomona Public Library is truly an integral asset to the City of Pomona. It has also partnered with Cal Poly Pomona to showcase a growing collection of public art through digital archives.
Mexican-American Student Association (MASA)
Student Organization Award for Civic Engagement
MASA hosts an annual Parent Bilingual conference informing parents and their high school children on how to apply for college, along with the Cesar E. Chavez High School and Community College Transfer conferences. They are also committed to mentoring and tutoring elementary school children.
Sergio Hernandez
Student Award for Civic Leadership
Sergio Hernandez served as co-chair for the annual Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Conference this past year. He has volunteered with the Hispanic Youth Symposium where he encourages youth to seek brighter futures and stay in school, as well as with Familia Unida Living, which serves Spanish-language speakers with multiple sclerosis. He also received the Greek Man of the Year award for his contributions to the Greek community here on campus.