Carlson, Sather honored by Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education
Holly Fredrickson
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: News
Patricia Carlson of the College of Social Work and Paul Sather, director of the Service Learning Academy, were recently honored at the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education luncheon on Sept. 25.
"I was shocked and kind of surprised that everyone managed to keep it a secret from me. That was shocking in itself," said Sather, who first learned of his award at the luncheon.
Carlson was awarded the Teaching Commendation in Service-Learning while Sather received the Voyager Award.
"Honestly, I think this award is more of a reflection of the Service Learning Academy," Sather said. "UNO and service learning have come a long way in the last 10 years."
To receive the awards, both Carlson and Sather were nominated by their colleagues and then selected by a panel from the consortium. Sather was picked for the Voyager Award based on his dedication to service learning and history of leadership in the field. Also taken into consideration was his work in advancing principles of effective practice by developing a culture of engagement at UNO, innovation in program growth and sustainability and dedication to advancing the mission and goals of the consortium.
"Service learning is about more than students volunteering," Sather said. "It's students applying the lessons they learn in the classroom to the real world and their community."
Carlson was selected for the Teaching Commendation in Service-Learning based on her long-term efforts in bringing service learning curricula to UNO and her emphasis on working closely with community partners and students.
"We're bringing the classroom into the community," Carlson said. "My favorite part is watching the students' project come to fruition. At the start of the semester they're overwhelmed by the problems they're being asked to solve. Then, at the end of the semester, they realize they did it - they completed their projects and it wasn't actually that hard."
Unlike Sather, Carlson knew beforehand she would be receiving an award from the consortium.
"I was shocked and kind of surprised that everyone managed to keep it a secret from me. That was shocking in itself," said Sather, who first learned of his award at the luncheon.
Carlson was awarded the Teaching Commendation in Service-Learning while Sather received the Voyager Award.
"Honestly, I think this award is more of a reflection of the Service Learning Academy," Sather said. "UNO and service learning have come a long way in the last 10 years."
To receive the awards, both Carlson and Sather were nominated by their colleagues and then selected by a panel from the consortium. Sather was picked for the Voyager Award based on his dedication to service learning and history of leadership in the field. Also taken into consideration was his work in advancing principles of effective practice by developing a culture of engagement at UNO, innovation in program growth and sustainability and dedication to advancing the mission and goals of the consortium.
"Service learning is about more than students volunteering," Sather said. "It's students applying the lessons they learn in the classroom to the real world and their community."
Carlson was selected for the Teaching Commendation in Service-Learning based on her long-term efforts in bringing service learning curricula to UNO and her emphasis on working closely with community partners and students.
"We're bringing the classroom into the community," Carlson said. "My favorite part is watching the students' project come to fruition. At the start of the semester they're overwhelmed by the problems they're being asked to solve. Then, at the end of the semester, they realize they did it - they completed their projects and it wasn't actually that hard."
Unlike Sather, Carlson knew beforehand she would be receiving an award from the consortium.
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