Sustained Service Scholars program!

The Sustained Service Scholars program is a service program sponsored by Miami Hamilton's Center for Civic Engagement. This program is for students interested in an on-going service placement throughout the summer that meets an authentic need in the Hamilton community.

How it all began! 

Early May after meeting with a community partner, the Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, Sarah Woiteshek-Pietzuch, came up with a brilliant plan to address a significant need of our community partners. This need is to have consistent volunteers to assist with programming throughout the summer. During the school year many of Miami Hamilton's community partners have Service-Learning students serving weekly. However without these programs in the summer it makes it difficult for the partners to get the man power they so desperately need. Sarah thought this was the prefect chance to make her dream come true of having MUH students volunteer in the summer on a weekly basis! 

Through the Sustained Service Scholars program, Sarah's brain child has come to fruition! The Sustained Service Scholars program provides a volunteer and professional development opportunity to Miami Hamilton students for 10 weeks from June 2nd-August 8th. 

Service Placements

The Sustained Service Scholars are placed with two Hamilton agencies, Boys & Girls Club and Sojourner Recovery Services. 

Boys & Girls Club on East Avenue provides a safe and educational space for youth throughout the summer. The Club has plenty of activities for the youth to participate in, including: a swimming pool, video games, and Accelerated Reader (AR) program. The Sustained Service Scholars are assisting with Accelerated Reader. Accelerated Reader allows youth to identify books that fit his/her reading level. After he/she finishes a book they complete an AR quiz that tests comprehension. 

Scholars are also serving with Sojourner Recovery Services Adolescent facility. In an effort to promote and model sober out-door activities, Scholars volunteer twice a week to facilitate structured "Playtime" with the adolescents. This programming is also brand new. The Scholars and Sojourner staff want to make sure that each adolescent is given an opportunity to just be a kid and have fun, one of the goals of this program. With materials provided by Sojourner, Scholars and adolescents will have an opportunity to play kickball, basketball, Frisbee, lawn darts, and a variety of other out-door activities! 

Benefits for MUH Students

Sustained involvement in service provides a unique volunteer experience that cannot be found with one-time opportunities. The student is able to develop a relationship between himself/herself and the agency and learn a great deal about the causes the agency addresses and how it does so. On-going service also provides opportunities for the students to gain professional experience and develop skills such as communication, professionalism, problem solving and critical thinking. 

Through reflective blogs, each Scholar will consider his/her own motivation for participating in this program, the social issues and community needs that each of their agencies is addressing,and how they are going about it. These blogs will be posted right here throughout the program! 

The Scholars will also be recognized for their work this summer through the fall Celebration of Service, sponsored by the Center for Civic Engagement and the Dean's award ceremony in the spring. All Scholars that complete 25 or more service hours this summer will also receive the Summer Service Honor Roll!  

Boys & Girls Club volunteer and Karen Miller,
Hamilton BGC Executive Director at Orientation

Sojourner volunteers & Sojourner employees at
Orientation! 

Lunch prior to first day at Sojourner at Dayton street facility!
Volunteers & AmeriCorps VISTA, Rachael Lange