Co-authored by Kimberly Post, Director of Community-Based Learning, and MaKenzie Copp ’20, English, and Writing and Publishing student.
Saint Joseph’s College President Jim Dlugos, Board Chair of Maine Campus Compact, opens the virtual Maine Campus Compact Awards Ceremony 2020 highlighting the inspiring work that has created positive change for campuses and communities throughout Maine and beyond. These awards recognize three members of the Saint Joe’s community and one of our academic departments — an outstanding showing once again by our dedicated campus community!
Dr. Patricia Waters, Assistant Professor of Education, is the recipient of the Donald Harward Faculty Award for Service-Learning Excellence. This award recognizes her work with Riverton Elementary School and Project Pollinator, through which she emphasizes public service in her curriculum, real-world learning for her students, and reciprocal community partnerships.
The Sciences Department receives the President's Campus Leadership Award for contributions to community-based learning and civic engagement efforts on our campus. This award highlights the department's dedication to creating spaces where leaders are encouraged to take on the challenges of the world.
Students Nate Domingue ’08/’21 and Samantha Medlin ’20 are both honored with PILLARS (Philanthropy, Innovation, Learning, Leadership, Action, Responsibility, and Service) Awards.
Nathan Domingue ’08 found himself drawn to the medical field after graduation. In 2017, he started working as a CNA III at Maine Medical Center and decided to re-enrolled at SJC to earn his BSN in Nursing. While at Saint Joseph’s, Nathan participated in international service trips to Haiti and Guatemala. Professor Steve Bridge says that “having witnessed Nate’s selfless care for those in need, his resilient spirit and unquenchable optimism (even under the most challenging of circumstances), and his thoughtful consideration of everyone around him”, he can “attest to the genuineness of Nate’s servant-leadership.” Nate has also volunteered in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
Samantha Medlin ’20, nursing, came to SJC with a history of service to Haiti through her father’s organization called Haiti 180. The organization runs a home that houses over 40 children, a school that educates over 400, a home for the elderly, and a state of the art medical clinic. Samantha’s decision to become a nurse is strongly rooted in her desire to aid this community. Dr. Steve Bridge says that Samantha’s “commitment to Haiti extends far beyond what our College has— or even can— officially sponsor.” He says last winter the school had to cancel its service trip to Haiti due to political unrest but this didn’t stop Samantha and her Haiti 180 team. He says that they “continued on with their trip to Haiti—contracting with a helicopter service to simply fly over the Port Au Prince roadblocks and deliver much needed humanitarian aid and medical services to the more remote regions of Haiti. This was Sam’s seventeenth trip.”
Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Waters, the Sciences Department, Nate Domingue, and Samantha Medlin!
