Nscc pennon november 2014

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November 2014:May Issue.QXD

11/5/14

10:12 AM

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November 2014

• A MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR THE STUDENTS OF NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DANVERS, MIDDLETON, LYNN, & BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS • •READ THE PENNON ONLINE AT: NORTHSHORE.EDU/PENNON•

Ebola advisory Cowboy days of Afghanistan warning Page 2

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Veteran Profiles

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Introduction to CommUniverCity at Lynn Panto Page 8

NSCC’s Presidential Scholars strive to make a difference By Tiffany L. Walker Contributing Writer The 2014-2015 school year marks a momentous step forward for the Presidential Scholars. Established in 2006, The Wayne Burton Presidential Scholars Program is a unique leadership development program at NSCC which recognizes high academic achievement and community service, providing financial support, academic and personal mentoring, as well as opportunities to serve as ambassadors for the President's Office and North Shore Community College. The students participate in social, public policy, community and fundraising initiatives of many types. This allows these students to learn about networking, advocating for themselves, leadership skills, and serving others. This year, the Scholars will be working with David Sullivan, executive director of the Forest Foundation. This family-run organization is actively engaged in the leadership development of undergraduate college students and their exposure to the nonprofit sector. The goals of the Forest Foundation are accomplished through effective grant making, student internships, skills/leadership development, and productive collaborations with regional nonprofit agencies whom they work to aid and support. With such a community focus, their mission greatly coincides with that of the Presidential Scholars. Because of this, David Sullivan has volunteered his time and resources to develop a project which combines the aims of both groups. He and Matthew Woods, Performing Arts and Presidential Scholars Coordinator, have put together a project in which our thirteen Scholars will be researching and representing two regional nonprofits . This opportunity will provide experience in grant writing, business research and

decision-making, humanitarianism, philanthropy, as well as continued development of leadership skills via lectures with guest speakers and volunteer opportunities involved with NSCC and elsewhere. It is a true chance for these students to make a difference. This is not just about leadership and community aid, but also about forming alliance and community within our team. These students, though very different, are unified by their dedication and drive. They are all extraordinary in their own way, each bringing their own strength to the table. These students have worked hard and will continue to show what being a student of North Shore Community College is all about. Thus far, the students have collectively settled on Hunger and Homelessness as the theme which they will be dedicated to investigate, particularly where the issue involves Youth-at-Risk and Family Stability. There was a near unanimous call for focus on the subject, as this particular issue being ranked of great importance in the heart of every Scholar. In support of this theme, the Presidential Scholars were represented at the recent

Forum on Tolerance by Erica Snyder and Eligah Gousby. The theme of this year’s Forum was also Homelessness, as so these two lovely young people volunteered their time to the cause and assisted in running the event and collecting donations. After the decision of a focused theme, the Scholars were divided into two teams: a Lynn Team and a Danvers Team, and each were presented with three potential non-profits from their community (Lynn / Danvers area). Scholars learned about the various methods of “getting to know” an agency, and each team was charged with the task of researching their potential agencies through general investigation. The Danvers and Lynn teams then selected a single agency on which to focus their efforts based on their collective research. Workshop guest Julie Bishop of Essex County Community Foundation, alongside Matthew Woods and David Sullivan, met with students to discuss “How to Conduct a Site Visit.” Our Scholars have learned in depth about the importance of making site visits, how to assess the needs of the community and the non-profit, and in general how to determine where grant money

can be most effective.

The Lynn Team, consisting of Fabiano Da Mota, Jonathan Gaytan, Jonathan O’Brien, Edwina Shackleton, Megan Hansen, Eligah Gousby, and Tiffany Walker, have selected to advocate for the Lynn Shelter Association, focusing on the Bridge House Family Shelter. The Danvers Team, made up of “Lexy” Bean, Erica Morin, Meghan Cafferty, Natasha Oliveira, Erica Snyder, and Camila Espinal have selected to advocate for the Family Promise North Shore. Before the next meeting, each team will make a site visit to their selected non-profit agency. They will also be expected to conduct a needs assessment to determine the focus of their grant proposal (in other words: How should the money be spent?) With five of our Scholars returning from the previous year, and the rest brand new to the program, it is incredible to witness how these young men and women, all of differing races, cultures, and experiences, have coalesced into this strong, united entity working to make a difference. Together, they will have the power to truly impact two regional non-profits and the

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people that they serve. When asked what this means to them, most of the thirteen had very much the same thing to say: that this experience, if it has not already, will have the power to change their lives. On the subject, Joanne Light, Interim Vice President of Student/Enrollment Services and founder of the Presidential Scholars Program wrote: “I am totally thrilled with the Presidential Scholars’ project for this year. They are engaged and being offered an incredible opportunity. Through David Sullivan’s volunteer effort to work with the students on behalf of the Forest Foundation, these participants are gaining lifelong skills. In their exposure to the nonprofit world, they are learning about budgeting, grant writing, and the roles of Boards of Trustees. Working in teams, they are doing needs assessment, interviewing Executive Directors, and researching organizations. Most important, however, is the fact that they are ‘giving back’ and in choosing to focus on hunger and homelessness, they are making a conscious decision to recognize the issues and promote its prevalence in their own communities. I am grateful to David Sullivan, Julie Bishop and Matthew Woods for their dedication to hands on student learning.” These bright young people are doing a great thing. They honorably represent the Forest Foundation and North Shore Community College in their attempts to better their community, as well as themselves. They also represent the power we all have as members of a community to recognize need, and the toil necessary to satisfy it. We look forward to following this project in the future, as well as the strides and achievements of these thirteen leaders.


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