Ryan Bergman Earns National Honor as 2014 Newman Civic Fellow

by Kara Aiello and Alana J. Mauger

Ryan Bergman. Photo by Sandi Yanisko

Montgomery County Community College student and community leader Ryan Bergman, Collegeville, is among an elite group of students in the country to earn the 2014 Newman Civic Fellow Award from Campus Compact.

The Newman Civic Fellows Award honors college student leaders nationwide who inspire others and have worked to find solutions for challenges facing the community. According to the organization’s website, through service, research, and advocacy, Newman Civic Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

A Social Sciences major concentrating in Psychology, Bergman dedicates his service efforts to eradicating poverty and homelessness both on local and national levels. Selected as a Scholar for Community Service at MCCC for the 2013-14 academic year, Bergman used the opportunity to strengthen the College’s relationship with the Montgomery County chapter of Habitat for Humanity and Habitat ReStore.

“Ryan’s commitment and dedication to issues of homelessness and poverty have assisted in raising student awareness about Habitat for Humanity and ways to individually support the work being done within the County,” shared College President Dr. Karen A. Stout in her letter of recommendation to Campus Compact.

Bergman chartered and serves as president of the College’s Habitat Club, whose members support ongoing volunteer dates at Habitat build-sites throughout the year. He also served as co-leader at the Habitat ReStore site in January during a college-wide day of service and again in March during spring break.

“Our goal for this new club is to show the importance of improving our community and lending a helping hand whenever needed,” explained Bergman.

In addition to his work locally, Bergman is a two-time participant in the College’s Alternative Spring Break program. In 2013, he traveled with students to West Virginia to build houses with Habitat for Humanity’s Collegiate Challenge, and in 2014, they volunteered at The Samaritan Woman in Baltimore, Md., a transitional residence program for victims of human trafficking.

An electrician by trade, it was Bergman’s job that first brought him to the College when his company was contracted to do electrical work on the College’s new Children’s Center. While working on the Center, Bergman began to fall out of love with his career choice, especially as he noticed students around his age walking to and from class.

“They all seemed full of life and motivated,” he shared.

When the company for which he was working closed two years later, Bergman enrolled in College’s Engineering Technology program, but soon switched to Social Sciences. He also got heavily involved in service work through the College’s Office of Student Leadership & Involvement, where he is a work-study student.

“I juggle my busy life by optimizing every moment of time; time management is crucial to excel at the college level,” he shared, adding that the work-study position enables him to “know the current happenings around campus” and participate as much as possible.

Adding to his full schedule, Bergman is also president of the College’s Psychology Club, performs contracting and electrical work off campus, and still finds time for basketball and weight training, as well as for saltwater fishing, longboarding and hiking.

After he graduates from Montgomery, Bergman plans to continue his education in Clinical Psychology, knowing that the College prepared him for the next chapter in his life.

“I know it sounds cliché, but I have truly found a home here at Montgomery County Community College, and I hope that I can one day return to inspire other people to follow their dreams.”

Newman Civic Fellows are recommended by college and university presidents to acknowledge motivation and ability in public leadership. Newman Civic Fellows awards are made in memory of Frank Newman, who dedicated his life to creating systemic change through education reform.

5K Service Learning Project Raises $875 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand

ESW 5K Students and participants. Photos by Matt Carlin

by Diane VanDyke

Students in Montgomery County Community College’s Introduction to Exercise Science and Wellness (ESW 102) classes raised approximately $875 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer by hosting a Run 5 Save Lives! 5K run/1-mile fun walk in April at the College’s Central Campus, Blue Bell.

Sixty-eight participants—including community members, faculty, staff and students—participated in the 5K run/1-mile walk organized by 54 students under direction of ESW Assistant Professor Dr. Anne Livezey and Instructor Amanda Wooldridge, co-coordinators of the ESW program.

“The classes host a dodge ball tournament during the fall semester and a 5K run and walk during the spring as our service learning projects,” Livezey said, noting that the dodge ball tournament is more focused on student participation, whereas the run/walk targets all areas of the College. Faculty and staff also may count the walk/run as part of the employee wellness program.

The run and walk both started in the Central Campus quad.

Sporting tie-dyed shirts, the students registered the runners and walkers, sold baked goods and other items and cheered on the runners throughout the race around the campus grounds. The students planned, organized and promoted the event by creating promotional flyers and a video. They also reached out to local businesses for support, and Wawa of Blue Bell donated lemonade and iced tea for the festivities.

As a prelude to the 5K and walk, children from the College’s Children’s Center ran their own fun run around the quadrangle in the center of campus. ESW students work with the children on a weekly basis to teach them different physical activities and the importance of exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.

The overall winner of the run was Assistant Professor of Economics Jill Beccaris-Pescatore. A seasoned runner, she competed in the Boston Marathon last month for the second time, finishing with her best time of 3 hours and 51 minutes.

Assistant Professor of Economics Jill Beccaris-Pescatore won the 5K race

In addition to raising money for Alex’s Lemonade, the event provided students with a feeling of accomplishment.

“Everyone had a great time, and it was nice to see the community come out to support the cause. I was excited to see how well the students took to the event, and it created a sense of community on the campus that I believe everyone benefitted from and enjoyed,” said student David J. Franco.

The students’ Run 5 Save Lives! event is one of the College’s 50 Acts of Kindness as part of the College’s 50th anniversary celebration. Throughout 2014, students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are committed to organizing 50 acts of community service—one for every year of the College’s existence. To learn more at the College’s 50th anniversary activities, visit mc3.edu/50.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott in 2000 when she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for children with cancer. Since Alex created that first stand, the Foundation has grown into a national fundraising initiative to support research and help children with cancer.

Hospitality Students Serve the Hungry at MANNA on Main Street

by Nichole Hall

Sixteen Hotel & Restaurant Management students from Montgomery County Community College recently prepared and served dinner at Manna on Main Street (MANNA) to the homeless, as part of a class service learning project.  The project was also part of MCCC’s 50 Acts of Kindness, in celebration of the College’s 50th anniversary.

Located in Lansdale, MANNA is a community outreach organization whose mission is to end hunger in the North Penn region by providing soup kitchens, food pantries, and education programs to its residents.

All 16 students in Instructor James Lynch’s Fundamentals of Special Event Management course were involved in the project; half of the class prepared the food, while the other half served it at MANNA the following day. In the course, Lynch teaches students the set-up protocol for special events in the hospitality industry, as well as the necessary tasks that need to be fulfilled at corporations and conventions.

Upon arriving at MANNA, Operations Manager Scott Lukens prepped the students for service. The students were then assigned to different stations: serving food to the families, working in the kitchen to deliver food, or cleaning the dishes.  Listed on the menu for dinner was turkey breast, steamed broccoli, roasted herbed potatoes, artisan rolls, and garden salads. Chocolate mousse was served for dessert, and residents drank fruit punch, ice-tea, milk, and ice water, with milk being the most popular choice.

As a student service learning project, the purpose of serving dinner at MANNA was to connect what students learned in the classroom to a real-world experience.

“Projects such as this not only increase a student’s knowledge, but also reinforce our College’s commitment to service and the power of volunteerism,” said Lynch.  “These are the key building blocks in creating and growing a supportive and productive community.  The Hospitality Industry is uniquely positioned to do projects like this.  Success in our business is based upon the fundamentals of superior, consistent service—whether in a restaurant, hotel, or in the community.”

One student, Tom Heller, 21, was no stranger to being a server at the event.  The second-year student had previously been a server at Olive Garden and Rendazzo’s Pizzeria.  Heller enjoyed the event and shared his learning experience at MANNA.

“I’ve pretty much just learned that there’s a lot of people in the community and around us that are homeless,” he said. “We learned how [homelessness] was occurring. It’s a rough experience just seeing that and also going back to your house and talking to your family about [it], and also how they’ll react to it,” he said, describing the experience as “heartfelt.”

“It all got to us because once Scott [Lukens] announced that we were students from MCCC, and were making all this dinner and stuff, everyone was clapping and really appreciated the meal that we made for them,” Heller continued.

Lynch stressed the importance of preparing students to be good citizens, as well as successful professionals.

“By having our students actively involved in local hunger-relief activities, we hope that hands-on experiences, like MANNA, gives our students the opportunity to witness first-hand how powerful a gesture of kindness can be in the lives of those less fortunate. We strive to make our students not only successful professionals, but good citizens of their community as well.”

The students’ project at MANNA on Main Street is one of 50 Acts of Kindness as part of the College’s 50th anniversary celebration.  Throughout 2014, MCCC students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are committed organizing 50 acts of community service – one for every year of the College’s existence. To learn more about the College’s 50th anniversary activities, visit mc3.edu/50.

Montco Radio Hosts ‘WeeCanned’ Event in Support of Local Food Pantry

by Alana J. Mauger

The student-run Internet radio station at Montgomery County Community College will host a “Montco Radio WeeCanned” event this month to wrap up a non-perishable food drive that benefits Manna on Main Street, Lansdale.

On Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., the community is invited bring donations to the Montco Radio Studio, which is located on the first floor at the Advanced Technology Center at the College’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

Guests will have a unique opportunity to meet the DJs and see them in action behind the scenes in Montco Radio’s state-of-the-art studio. Those who can’t make it to campus can listen to a special live broadcast throughout the event online at montcoradio.com.

Montco Radio’s  donation drive in support of Manna on Main Street is one of the College’s “50 Acts of Kindness” as part of the College’s 50th anniversary celebration. Throughout 2014, MCCC students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are committed to organizing 50 acts of community service—one for every year of the College’s existence. To learn more at the College’s 50th anniversary activities, visit mc3.edu/50.

To learn more about Manna On Main Street, visit mannaonmain.org.

Check out the video below!

Students Host 5K Run/Fun Walk for Alex’s Lemonade Stand

by Diane VanDyke

Students in Montgomery County Community College’s Exercise Science and Wellness (ESW) program are holding a Run 5 Save Lives! 5K run/1-mile fun walk on Monday, April 14, to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

Registration starts at noon at the Bell Tower near the Science Center Building, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The registration fee is $5 for students and $10 for faculty, staff and community members. The 5K run around the campus starts at 12:30 p.m. followed by the 1-Mile Fun Walk at 12:40 p.m.

In addition to the 5K run and fun walk, the event will include food concessions, raffles, music and prizes.

For further information, email Anne Livezey at alivezey@mc3.edu. Also, online donations to Alex’s Lemonade Stand can be made at alexslemonade.org/mypage/1113108 or by texting “Lemonade 1113108” to 85944.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was started by cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott in 2000 when she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for children with cancer. Since Alex created that first stand, the Foundation has grown into a national fundraising initiative to support research and help children with cancer.

Run 5 Save Lives! is one of the College’s“50 Acts of Kindness” as part of its 50th anniversary celebration. Throughout 2014, the College’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are committed organizing 50 acts of community service – one for every year of the College’s existence. To learn more at the College’s 50th anniversary activities, visit mc3.edu/50.

Dodgeball Service Learning Project Raises $500 for Student Scholarship

by Melissa S. Treacy

Dodgeballs were flying in the Central Campus gymnasium on Nov. 25, where 84 players and spectators raised $500 for student scholarships during a Dodgeball Tournament hosted by Montgomery County Community College’s Exercise Science and Wellness (ESW) program.

Fifty students from Dr. Anne Livezey and Amanda Wooldridge’s Introduction to Exercise Science and Wellness (ESW 102) classes coordinated the event from start to finish as part of the program’s service learning component.

“The students were responsible for planning, marketing and day-of implementation for tournament and the fund-raising effort for the ESW Scholarship fund,” said Wooldridge, who is co-coordinator of the ESW program along with Livezey. “They also coordinated a concession stand and raffle with great prizes donated by local businesses!”

Adam Kierstan was one of those students busy planning for the big day.

“The whole event was planned by the ESW classes. Class members worked by selling food, refereeing, and working the brackets,” he explained. “An event like this gives the students an opportunity to be highly competitive, win prizes and socialize. The good that comes from this event is that proceeds will go to deserving ESW students and help them along in their educational goals.”

Wooldridge agreed.

“It is wonderful to see our students plan and implement an event such as this!” she said. “It is a great learning experience, as well as an opportunity to raise money for a great cause. From a faculty perspective, it is great to see the students think creatively and work together to ensure the event will be a success.”

More than 60 students, faculty and staff competed in the recent Dodgeball Tournament organized by MCCC Exercise Science and Wellness students. Photo by Matt Carlin

ESW Students Collaborate with Children’s Center for Valuable Service Learning Experience

by Melissa S. Treacy

The youngest students on Montgomery County Community College’s Central Campus in Blue Bell are helping Exercise Science and Wellness (ESW) students to get some hands-on experience with building Physical Education lesson plans.

For the past three semesters, students in Introduction to Exercise Science and Wellness classes (ESW 102) taught by program co-coordinators Dr. Ann Livezey and Amanda Wooldridge have had the opportunity to work with toddler and pre-school students from the College’s Children’s Center.

According to Wooldridge, her students develop and lead physical education activities and lesson plans for Children’s Center students in the College’s gymnasium several times throughout the semester. The lessons are based on Pennsylvania’s Early Learning Standards.

“The college students enjoy the inter-generational interactions and having fun with the children through physical activity,” Wooldridge explained. “Many of the college students will go into careers working with children, but they all report that this is an invaluable experience to provide fun activities for children to encourage them to be active and PLAY!”

The college students are not the only ones enjoying the fun.

“The [preschool] children absolutely love ‘gym class’ and leave with smiles on their faces every time,” she said. “I see children and college students having fun together — jumping, playing games, balancing, throwing, scootering and just plain running!”

“The college students report that this interaction teaches them about lesson planning, organization, and the joy that children have for the lessons,” she added. “They form bonds with the children and the children look up to their college counterparts. It is a win-win relationship!”

Wooldridge isn’t the only one thrilled with the program.  Kathie Hawkins, lead teacher and assistant director of the Children’s Center, agreed it was a win-win for all involved.

“The [preschool] children get to work on real, gross-motor skills with indoor activity. The gym is a huge space, so they really get to run around,” said Hawkins. “As a teacher, I can observe and record my observations, watch their gross-motor skills, their interactions. At the same time, the college faculty can evaluate their [students’] teaching skills. And, the college students, acting as teachers, are able to implement their lesson plans on real people.”

Hawkins said, as an MCCC graduate herself, the application of lesson plans is crucial for a teacher learning the ropes.

“Sometimes you write your lesson plans on paper, and they sound great on paper or to adults in your class,” she said. “Here, the college students are able to test their ideas out on the kids.”

This style of teaching, known as service learning, is an important component in many of MCCC’s programs. It can be a unique way to both learn and provide for the needs of a community.

“The students get to learn by providing a service for a certain population,” explained Wooldridge in her ESW example. “This particular project means a lot to them because they can visually see the difference they are making for these children. They get to have a positive impact on the young children and make sure they know how much fun being active can be!”

Wooldridge said that service learning is a fundamental component in many of her classes.

“The students get to learn that they can use their skills and knowledge to enhance the lives of others,” she said. “Through [the preschool] activity, they get to impart their love of activity and knowledge about motor development to create a positive environment for the children. In other service learning exercises, my students get to learn how to plan, organize and run an entire fundraising event to learn sports management. All money raised goes to a local charity in Montgomery County as well as to MCCC’s ESW Scholarship Fund.”

Wooldridge said that the MCCC students are helping to teach lifelong lessons, and not just a single moment of exercise.

“Encouraging children to lead active lifestyles instead of sedentary lifestyles is a wonderful step in the right direction,” she said of a healthy lifestyle. “The ESW students are also tasked with educating the preschoolers about the importance of healthy lifestyles and sharing age-appropriate tips with the children each time they visit the gym.”

The lessons are driven home by also speaking with the families of the preschool students.

“I also speak with the parents of the preschoolers from the role of ESW faculty about the importance of family engagement in physical activity,” said Wooldridge.

To learn more about MCCC’s Exercise Science & Wellness program, visit mc3.edu/academics.

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Photos by Alana J. Mauger

Medical Assisting Club Coat Drive Benefits Cluster Outreach

by Diane VanDyke

Students in the Medical Assisting Club at Montgomery County Community College are collecting gently worn winter coats as part of the club’s Annual Coat Drive starting Oct. 21 through Nov. 21. Coats for children are especially appreciated.

The coats will be shared with the Outreach Cluster in Pottstown. At Central Campus in Blue Bell, collections boxes are available in the Parkhouse Hall atrium, the student commons area of the lower level of College Hall and outside room 218 in the Science Center. At West Campus in Pottstown, a collection box will be available in the Health Careers Suite in South Hall.

Nursing Student Collects, Delivers Goods for Tornado Victims

by Alana J. Mauger

Montgomery County Community College Nursing student Patti Marcus, Gilbertsville, rallied her fellow students, faculty and community to help collect goods for residents of Moore, Okla. following the devastating tornado that hit the region on May 31.

“Operation Fill the Garage,” named for Patti’s goal to literally fill her home garage with donations, soon went viral. Money and supplies started coming in from as far away as New Jersey, Virginia, Iowa and California.

On June 25, Patti and other volunteers filled two large trucks and a trailer with donated water, linens, diapers, non-perishable food, pet food, cleaning products and countless other supplies. She and several volunteers drove the supplies to a drop-off site in Oklahoma.

Operation Fill The Garage was featured on local news broadcasts, including Fox 29, NBC 10, and WFMZ. Patti also documented her journey on Facebook, where she still shares information about how people can get involved in helping tornado victims. To learn more, visit facebook.com/OperationFillTheGarage.

Second year Nursing student Patti Marcus and MCCC Director of Nursing Maria Toth load boxes collected by the College’s students and faculty. Photo by Alana J. Mauger

Intro to Anthropology Students Raise Funds for Charities

by Laura Maginley

Students enrolled in Lynn O’Brien’s Introduction to Anthropology course at Montgomery County Community College strategically fundraised in an assortment of virtual and physical ways to produce real dollars for local charities.  Spring 2013 was the first semester for the project after O’Brien, an Anthropology instructor, thought of ways for her students to become more civically responsible.  She wanted to have her students act instead of solely read about the poor, impoverished or politically weak.

“Since I can’t ask students to go abroad and volunteer, my alternative was to raise money here in the U.S. to help people already working abroad to make the world a better place,” she explained.  “Through this project, students spend some time researching organizations that are trying to help people outside the U.S. and learn to recognize some of the impacts that our global world has on small-scale societies.”

Each of O’Brien’s classes selected a charity and worked in smaller groups to reach the largest sum to donate to the classes’ respective charities.  These smaller groups within the courses were given full reign over their designated positions and group dynamics.

The five charities that the five courses raised money for this spring included Somaly Mam Foundation, Love 146, Aid for Africa, 4 Paws for Ability and Doctors Without Borders.  From raising awareness to money through online fundraisers, students utilized all of their resources to raise the maximum amount of cash.

The largest amount of money raised by one small group was $360 through a bake sale held in a grocery store, which was given to 4 Paws for Ability.  In total, that particular class raised $805 for 4 Paws for Ability.

Students were evaluated on their PowerPoint presentations, peer assessments and fundraising success.  For her summer course, O’Brien wants to change the fundraising portion of the course to pass or fail.

“I hope to motivate them to raise even more money, although I recognize the six-week length of the course limits them,” she said.

O’Brien wants students to learn about a variety of cultures and take away new ways of thinking.

“I want my students to be more inclusive and accepting of others, both in our own culture but also in understanding others outside of the U.S.,” she stated.