Students share summer service-learning experiences
Ann Marie Rizzuto, a senior English major, helped develop a web site for Ingleside Homes Inc. in Wilmington.
4:36 p.m., Aug. 10, 2007--Twelve UD undergraduates spent their summers bettering the community through projects that they summarized at the third annual Service-Learning Scholars Symposium, held Friday, Aug. 10, at the Perkins Student Center.

Organized by Susan Serra, coordinator of UD's Office of Service Learning, the half-day symposium gives scholars who have worked in the community all summer the opportunity to share their experiences.

“This program allows scholars to consider what it means to pursue a life of service and find out if they are ready to take on the challenges such work requires,” Serra said in her introductory remarks. “Through their project, students open themselves to others' experiences, and, through the coursework and readings, students learn ways to avoid the hazards of the work, such as burnout and despair.”

Before turning the symposium over to the student presenters, Serra thanked them for their commitment and curiosity and encouraged feedback from members of the audience. “We've asked questions all summer,” Serra said, “and we hope you will ask questions, too.”

Ann Marie Rizzuto, a senior English major from Wilmington who helped develop a web site for Ingleside Homes Inc. in Wilmington, said that her experience had given her an opportunity to apply what she'd learned in her classes in a practical, hands-on way.

Rizzuto said that rewriting, redesigning and reframing the Ingleside Homes Inc. web site also gave her confidence in her management and interpersonal skills.

“It was really nice to connect with staff and residents,” she said. “When I began the project, one of the challenges I faced was deciding what was important to highlight from the more than 200 pages of information.

Rebekah Kaplan, a senior sociology major, created her own observation tool to compare what services to victims of domestic violence are required by law with what is actually delivered.
“Because I was the single author and editor, I was able to apply my technical writing skills and ensure consistency,” Rizzuto said. “But I also worked with a team on choosing what colors to use, and that taught me a lot about group dynamics. I gained management skills as well as experience with developing a big project.”

Rebekah Kaplan, a senior sociology major from Newark, shared her experience evaluating a 2005 study that was undertaken in conjunction with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a U.S. federal law passed in 1994 to enhance the protection of victims of domestic abuse.

“I became interested in domestic violence, and by evaluating the 2005 VAWA study my goal was to help the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence,” Kaplan said.

In her project, Kaplan created her own observation tool to compare what services to victims of domestic violence are required by law with what is actually delivered. She also scoured local newspaper articles from 2004 and 2005 to get an idea of the number of reported cases of domestic abuse in the area.

“I have learned a great deal about the importance of field work,” Kaplan said of her project. “This effort confirmed my desire to help people. I learned that nothing can replace experience.”

Alexandra Fitzgerald, a senior women's studies and pre-med major from Severna Park, Md., worked on establishing a program to ensure quality breast cancer care for women by studying responses from patient satisfaction surveys.

“I wanted to do something that included both areas of my studies,” Fitzgerald said.

She looked at existing studies that evaluated breast cancer treatment, doctor-patient relationships and patient satisfaction with care and follow-up and expanded on the questions to establish what patients perceived to be quality care.

Alexandra Fitzgerald, a senior women’s studies and pre-med major, worked on establishing a program to ensure quality breast cancer care for women by studying responses from patient satisfaction surveys.
“I created two surveys--one that looked at care from a clinical perspective and one that evaluated patient satisfaction--and I came up with my own definition of what quality care means,” Fitzgerald said. “Often I found that patients felt powerless and overcome by their doctor's decisions. When doctors work in teams, patients often feel greater satisfaction.

“When I started this project, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. This experience got me especially interested in women's health and taught me about quality care,” Fitzgerald said.

Other service-learning research presentations included:

  • “Project S.T.A.R. (Special-Needs Teaching-Artist-in-Residence),” a partnership with the Leach School by Ashley Snyder, a senior music education major from Bethany, Conn.;
  • “Project Music,” a music teaching partnership with the Thurgood Marshall Elementary School and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra by Valerie Schlanger, a senior instrumental music education major from Morganville, N.J.;
  • “Food Safety and Nutrition Education in Delaware,” a partnership with UD's Cooperative Extension by Emily Watts, a junior animal and food sciences major from Lansdale, Pa.;
  • “Girls Inc. Summer Physical Activity Program,” a partnership with Girls Inc. by Corey Hopkins, a senior health sciences major from Harbeson, Amanda Marshall, a junior health and physical education major from Cranbury, N.J., and Kate Santino, a senior health and physical education major from Wilmington;
  • “Increasing Physical Activity in Pre-Schoolers,” a partnership with UD's Early Learning Center, by Jessica Frumer, a senior health and physical education major from Lido Beach, N.Y.; and
  • “Youth Cultural Integration Through Basketball,” a partnership with the Irish Basketball Federation by Alena Koshansky, a senior health sciences major from Fairfax, Va., and Adam Wilson, a sport management major from South Amboy, N.J.

For more information about service-learning opportunities at UD, visit [www.servicelearning.udel.edu].

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Duane Perry