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John Glenn Scholars in Service-Learning Award
Congratulations to Richard Bradley, Ph.D and Lawrence Bailis on receiving the John Glenn Scholars in Service-Learning award.

With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The John Glenn Institute at The Ohio State University recognizes individuals whose scholarship efforts contribute to advancing the understanding of or adoption of service-learning, with specific emphasis on K-12 education.

Lawrence Bailis, Associate Research Professor in the Heller Graduate School at Brandeis University, is also a Senior Research Associate at the Center for Youth and Communities. Larry is a political scientist, receiving his B.A. from Cornell University along with a M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University. His scholarly interests have largely focused on the exploration of partnerships and collaboration, as well as intersections between education, employment, and welfare. During the past decade, Larry has conducted nineteen studies of service-learning programs, with much of the emphasis directed toward investigating service-learning partnerships. His paper, Promoting and Maintaining Civic Partnerships, suggests that sustainable, three-way partnerships between community, higher education, and schools will result in service-learning that is more responsive to the needs of students and communities.

Richard Bradley, Ph.D. is a service-learning consultant who currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator for a longitudinal study of service-learning impacts for Learn & Serve Ohio - Ohio Department of Education. Rick also directs the Service-Learning Curriculum Development Project for the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative, supported by KnowledgeWorks and The John Glenn Institute. Rick's extensive record of contributions to advancing K-12 service-learning include project evaluations, train-the-trainer workshops, practitioner workshops, curriculum materials development, graduate course instruction, and professional presentations. Rick's paper, Using Developmental and Learning Theory in the Design and Evaluation of K-16 Service-Learning Programs, explores how a theory-based approach may contribute to a better understanding of the connections between curriculum based service-learning activities and student outcomes.

Spirit of Service Award
The Corporation for National and Community Service created the Spirit of Service Awards to pay tribute to the most outstanding participants in each of its programs - Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America - as well as an outstanding corporate or foundation partner. This year's awards were presented to the winners during a special ceremony at the 2006 National Conference on Volunteering and Service.
Click here to read about the 2006 Spirit of Service Award winners.

Ohio Award Winner
The SITES Program, North Olmsted, OH
On June 18, 2006, the Corporation for National and Community Service honored the SITES program of North Olmsted, Ohio with a 2006 Spirit of Service Award for their hard work and dedication as an outstanding Learn and Serve America program. The Spirit of Service Awards pay tribute to the most outstanding participants in each of the Corporation’s three main program—Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America—as well as to outstanding private sector partners. Honorees are selected because they have exemplified the spirit of national service, demonstrated exceptional service or leadership, and served as role models for others.

In North Olmsted, more than 1,400 students have contributed more than 250,000 service hours to the community through the SITES program since it was established 15 years ago by North Olmsted High School teachers Robert J. Pierce and Christine Kilbane-Pierce. The three-credit, interdisciplinary program integrates 12th grade English and social studies with an elective credit in community service-learning. For the latter course, students perform five hours of weekly service at area agencies. They then analyze, discuss, and reflect on their experiences in both their English and social studies courses.

"These ‘Spirit of Service’ award winners have gone above and beyond the call to serve their nation and have brought excellence to our programs and critically needed services to their communities," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. In addition to addressing their own community needs, the SITES program serves as a Learn and Serve Ohio Model, assisting other schools with developing and improving service-learning programs of their own. Congratulations, North Olmsted!

http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/spiritofservice/index.asp

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