SNC Leaders to Present at Midwest Service Leaders Conference

From November 7-9, seven student leaders representing three different organizations on campus will pack up and carpool down to Marquette University in Milwaukee to represent St. Norbert College at the Midwest Service Leaders Conference. Marquette's website describes the event as "a student-led regional conference aimed at helping students develop skills, passion, and knowledge to inspire meaningful service projects at their campuses."

Funding for SNC student transportation and lodging was granted upon application by the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee through the St. Norbert Student Government Association (SGA). In a letter of grant confirmation, SGA Treasurer Melissa Geier stated, "The student activity fee allocation committee proudly supports your attendance at the Midwest Service Leadership Conference. Sharing information.with other schools in the Midwest serves as a great way for St. Norbert College to show and share our pursuit of excellence."

Senior Caitlin Froemming and junior Sam Hanson of Faith, Learning, and Vocation (FLV) and ALIVE Team will lead a workshop entitled, "Leading Reflections for One-Time Service Events." The workshop will highlight their skill and efforts involving reflection through ALIVE Team events in the residence halls. ALIVE team puts on weekly programs and service opportunities to help students build community and explore questions about values, beliefs, purpose, and callings in life.

Sophomore mentors/ interns Maggie Kitchen, Ellen Majowski, Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer, and Bryant Scherer of Leadership Development, Service and Engagement (LSE) will present on St. Norbert's M3C program in their workshop entitled "M3C AmeriCorps: The Highs, Lows, and Nitty Gritty of Student-Run Leadership and Service!" M3C is a national program through AmeriCorps and Wisconsin Campus Compact that gives college students the opportunity to develop their own volunteer projects, form positive connections, train in service and poverty, and receive a government stipend to pay for tuition and loans.

First year student Jade Buchberger, student intern in the new Center for Community Service and Learning (CCSL), will join the group to gather information and ideas that can help develop the CCSL office. Formed in 2008, CCSL's goal is to "support and promote service to and engagement with the wider community, particularly in Brown County, as we all work together for the common good," according to their website. The office can be found on the second floor of the Todd Wehr library next to the Writing Center.

"We're honored and excited to represent SNC at this year's conference at Marquette, and it would not have been possible without a collaborative effort between SGA, FLV, LSE, and CCSL," says Bryant Scherer, TRIPS Intern and M3C mentor through LSE.

The conference will feature a variety of panels, student-run workshops, and speakers, including Keynote Speaker Neil Willenson, founder of Camp Heartland, a camp for children affected by or living with HIV/AIDS. It is put on by the Marquette University Service Learning Program, Manresa, and Community Service Program with support from Campus Ministry and Marquette University Student Government.

Editor's Note: Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer is a sophomore from Appleton, and she currently serves as M3C Program Intern with the Office of Leadership, Service and Engagement.