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Handwritten Messages to Encourage Reading
Handwritten Messages to Encourage Reading
Veronica Romanek ’23 is a physics and Hispanic studies double major in the College of Arts and Sciences. During the Fall 2022 semester, after distributing nearly 50 containers of books to local agencies, Panuska College of Professional Studies had two remaining containers full of books written in Spanish, without messages.
After a brief search, Veronica, who is fluent in Spanish, contacted us and volunteered to handwrite messages in Spanish in these children’s books before they were donated. Over the course of a month, Veronica came to the Panuska College of Professional Studies Dean’s Office every week, on her own time, to write positive messages about reading to Spanish-speaking children and their families. Once the messages were completed, the books were donated to Valley Santa in time to be distributed to Spanish speaking families for Christmas.
When asked what inspired or motivated her to get involved with writing these messages to children in our local community, Veronica replied, “I was looking for ways to use Spanish to serve the community, and my professor informed me about this opportunity. I think it is important to use our talents to give back to others.”
Aside from Veronica’s studies, she is also a member of the University’s Honors Program, World Language Honor Society, Physics Honor Society, and the Engineering Honor Society. Veronica is a peer health educator with the Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW), and a Zumba instructor at the University. She is also the president of W3USR Amateur Radio Club, vice president of IEEE, and secretary of the Astronomy Club.
We asked Veronica, with everything else you are involved in, how did you find the time to write these messages? Veronica’s response was simple:
"If there is something you really want to do, you will find a way to make time for it. I enjoy speaking Spanish and helping the community. This was a very fun way to do both, and I did not mind volunteering my time to help out."
Student Run Leahy PT Clinic
One of the strengths of The University of Scranton’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is the student-run Leahy PT Clinic. The mission of the clinic is to deliver patient-centered care grounded in the Jesuit tradition of educating “men and women for and with others” by providing pro bono physical therapy services to uninsured and underinsured residents of our local community. This is achieved through collaboration, peer-mentorship, and evidence-based practice.
Our clinic is led by the DPT Student Administrative Team with primary goals to provide leadership and oversee the operations of the PT clinic during the academic calendar year (i.e., fall and spring semesters).
Our team typically consists of three positions, including: clinic student director, operations/public relations coordinator, and patient/ PT staff coordinator. As a unit, the student team works to coordinate patient care, communicate with student volunteers and faculty preceptors, mentor peers, develop/ implement initiatives, and facilitate community outreach programs.
The student team receives direction, oversight, and support from the chair of the PT Department, Dr. Renée M. Hakim. Each week, our student-run clinic enables dozens of DPT students to engage in experiential learning as they provide meaningful service.
During Spring/Fall 2022, Briana Abrams (G’23), Alesia Heimes (G’23), and Hailey Kenyon (G’23) served as the student administrative team with added responsibility for development and implementation of a community outreach program for Bhutanese and Congolese refugee groups. They recently presented their project titled, “Providing Culturally Sensitive Health Screening and Education to Local Scranton Refugee Communities,” at the 2023 Pro Bono Network Conference at Widener University.
The student team addressed the unique needs of local refugee groups with a successful program that included training of student volunteers, ordering supplies, creating educational materials with translations, and coordinating monthly health fairs. This program also helped student volunteers gain a greater understanding of the impact of forced relocation and trauma on members of our local community.
This spring, our new administrative team includes Nick Mohr (G’24), Matthew Moran (G’24) and Kathryn Kwapniewski (G’25). They plan to continue the Refugee Health Community Outreach Program and assist with the transition to a sustainable, interdisciplinary model. They are also working to expand patient referrals to the Leahy PT clinic from local health care providers.
As each year passes, DPT students, faculty, and patients alike continue to express their support for the Leahy PT Clinic with gratitude for the services provided. This student-run pro bono framework provides our students with valuable experiential learning opportunities and exposure to social and cultural determinants of health.
Ultimately, our DPT students experience both personal and professional growth as they prepare for careers in a helping profession in the context of Jesuit tradition and spirit.
