December 26, 2010
Students give back while learning management principles
During their semester-long service learning projects, students apply classroom techniques to help nonprofit organizations run more efficiently and effectively.
Kara Tuccinardi ’13 (Tewksbury, MA) concedes that when she started her Management 200 service learning project in September she was insecure about her leadership abilities. After a semester of working closely with the African Alliance of Rhode Island (AARI), she is much more confident leading a group of people. (Learn more about the African Alliance of RI.)
“What I will remember most is how much I have grown as a leader,” says Tuccinardi, who was a co-leader for the “New Directions” team. “By the end of the semester I improved my public speaking, leadership, and management skills, and I learned how to act as a professional.”
The team was selected as the best group in their class and won first place in the campuswide Service Learning Fair, which featured the top projects from 10 sections of Management 200 classes. Nearly 60 service learning projects were completed during the fall semester in Management 200.
The group’s instructor, Assistant Management Professor Eileen Kwesiga, required the students in her classes to work with an organization with an international focus. Byron Kerr ’12 (Atlanta, GA), who also served as a co-team leader, says the team decided to work with AARI because of the opportunity to leave a mark on a growing organization.
“We felt we could have a more hands-on and personal role with the organization and bring them into the same light as other, larger organizations,” he says.
‘Experience it the best teacher’
The team did that – and more. During the fall semester, they raised more than $1,000, which will go toward teaching skills to African refugees in the area. They also held an African night on campus that brought together 150 people to hear speakers and musical performances, collected more than 15 pounds of clothes, and helped AARI launch a more interactive website and create a Facebook page.
“We were very impressed with this group from the start,” says Susan Rezendes, volunteer coordinator for the AARI. “Their work helped improve the image of AARI, not only on the Bryant campus, but also throughout the state of Rhode Island.”
“It was amazing to have the opportunity to work with an established organization and help it achieve its goals and objectives, while applying concepts we learned from our management class,” adds Nicole Cook ’13 (Newport Beach, CA)
“As the saying goes, ‘experience is the best teacher,’ ” continues Emmanuel Ntim ’13 (Accra, Ghana). “The opportunity to work with a non-profit made me aware of the major impact those organizations have on the lives of many people.”
In addition to applying management principles, Dean Valles ’12 (Scituate, RI) gained a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures. “I learned so much about many different African cultures that I didn’t know about before the project,” he says.
Timothy Bessette ’13 (Waterbury, CT) says the time the group dedicated to building a highly-functioning team paid off. “We motivated each other to bring this organization to a whole new level,” he says.
Learn by doing
Emilia Dragowska ’13 (Cumberland, RI) was part of the team that captured second place in the Service Learning Fair for their work with the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor.
“I had never taken a management course before, and I learned a lot about how the concepts we learned related to the project we worked on,” says Dragowska, an actuarial math major.
The group, which was part of Executive in Residence Jim Segovis’s class, connected with the organization during a Community Service Fair organized at the beginning of the semester by Bryant’s Community Service Office. Its mission hit home with the team members from the Blackstone Valley. (Learn more about the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor.)
“I have worked with nonprofit organizations in the past and plan on volunteering more in the future,” says Dragowska. “This work gives you a sense of accomplishment and betters the community around us.
“This project was very enlightening,” adds Danielle Rubin ’13 (Sharon, MA), the team leader. “We were able to use our time to help an organization and learn by doing it.”
‘A lasting impact’
Valerie Paul, volunteer coordinator for the Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor, has worked with Bryant students in the past – and has been impressed with their work.
“When I am looking for volunteer assignments for Bryant students, I design projects that require them to manage the projects themselves to the greatest extent possible,” she says. “Bryant students have always risen to the challenge, no matter what the project has been.”
During the fall, the team revised tour brochures that will be available online and in visitor centers. To do this, the group walked or drove the 24 tours that are located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. They also recorded podcasts about the tours and created a Facebook group.
“There is no question that these students have made a lasting impact on our organization,” says Paul.
Making a difference
Laura Brayfield ’12 (Higganum, CT) was the leader for the team that captured third place in the Service Learning Fair for its work with the Rhode Island Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. (Learn more about the MS Society.)
The team, part of Management Lecturer John Poirier’s class, raised awareness of the work of the MS Society. They did this by creating a blog, Twitter account, and a YouTube channel. The team also provided society staff and volunteers with tutorials about each of the social media outlets.
“Our team always remembered that we were working towards a goal that would make a difference,” she says.
“It is important to perform community service work and understand that that it takes more than donating money,” continues Jason Fortin ’12 (Pomfret Center, CT). “By utilizing our skill set we can help local organizations – which help improve society on a daily basis – take their work to the next level.”
Read about past Management 200 service learning projects.
