Abulhasan donated 20 hours and used his engineering skills to construct a pool therapy platform
What class is this for?
HON201-26945
What tasks did you do at your service site?
Professor Sizemore, Residential Faculty for Engineering, introduced me to a few unfinished projects which were initiated by previous students and that needed to be completed. Professor Sizemore allowed me to select the project I would like to take on. I chose the Pool Therapy Platform project because I felt it could fulfill a service to those in need. I am the sole member of my team. The goal has been to research, plan, and build the platform after reviewing the information left behind by the previous students. After deciding on a design, I had to write up quotes for the Bill of Materials. I also applied for a Making a Difference Grant to help with the expense of purchasing materials. To improve my skills, I learned to draw up parts using a CAD system (Fusion 360).
What was your favorite part of your experience?
My Favorite part of the experience would have to be learning how to use the CAD system. This system allowed me to make a representation of the PVC connectors for my project. These images would be used in my engineering report. It feels as if I am drawing or painting when working with the CAD systems. Learning something new and being able to apply what was learned gives one a sense of accomplishment. I also loved brainstorming and implementing new design ideas. This project was researched before I worked on it, however, I found an issue with the design and engineered a way to improve the design. It is always a pleasurable thing to see something that I designed be something successful.
What was your greatest impact through this experience?
Although I completed my 20 hours of service, I will still continue working on this project until next semester. Once the platform is fully constructed it will hopefully have a positive impact on many people. The gratifying aspect of this project is that I will get to see my work actually benefit people first hand. Furthermore, this project has had a positive impact on me. I feel as if I have grown to take more responsibility and I can see now that tasks which seem big are really not that big if you take things one step at a time.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
I understand the value and importance of being civically involved in your community and willing to volunteer time. It's always a win win, because no matter what we do, we will be learning new things along the way, be it gaining new skills or building new relationships. Giving of yourself is probably the best way to give back to yourself.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?
I learned many important principles throughout this course but perhaps time management might be the most important one for me. I realized that in order to make something meaningful and useful, it is necessary to devote the right amount of time. We were told to give 20 hours which at first seemed like a lot of work, but as time went on I realized that this was needed to make a worthy achievement. This project will continue through next semester even though I have finished my hours.
Presentation
Rebecca donated 29 hours to the Census Ambassador project
What class is this for?
HON201
What tasks did you do at your service site?
As my endeavor, I decided to help and support the City of Mesa to make awareness about the upcoming census happening in 2020. Surrounded by amazing student leaders that could create social media content to communicate the impact that the Census does for our society. The importance of the Census was not been a topic that younger generations talk about. Making it an opportunity to change this perspective, the city of mesa included a diversity of cultures and found a common goal. To direct students to be part of an amazing project and encourage others to communicate through social media. Also, having an advantage on my side, speaking Spanish helped me communicate with Spanish speakers by assisting them to know more about what the census is. A beautiful experience that showed how culturally rich America is, just proving that the best way to include multiple cultures is by communicating clearly.
What was your favorite part of your experience?
My favorite part about this experience was the opportunity of practicing public speaking. Being a freshman in college sounds like something easy but it represents a big challenge for me. The fact that the opportunities to be involved were presented to me so soon is a gift. Throughout my professional career, I will be challenged to communicate clearly and persuade the public to trust my words. To get there, facing rejection and dealing with failure will help me overcome those obstacles. In the course of the multiple events that the Census was part of, I became more confident about the leadership endeavor that I was working on. Since it allowed getting civically engaged, assist others to know more about the programs that can affect the lifestyle of an American family. The presence of different challenges that where present throughout my endeavor helped me value the work of others and how sometimes getting informed help to be guided to better paths through personal growth
What was your greatest impact through this experience?
In comparison with the last survey that the Census realized ten years ago. So far, Mesa Community College has supported the City of Mesa with approximately nine hundred pledges of people that will complete the survey next year. Most of the people that signed the pledge were informed about the census and the advantages of filling the forms. Since some people were unknown about the existence of the Census, my team came to the challenge to inform the process that the Census does to collect data and provide accurate information about the population. Since is such a great program that benefits the community if it is used for the right purposes. A census aims to count the entire population of a country, and at the location where each person usually lives. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age, and race of each person. Although when one person ignores it or just avoids it, the city loses three thousand one hundred and ninety-five dollars. The amount of participation of a citizen counts and the purpose of the program is to let the population know that they count too. A great awareness has been created in a couple of months that will produce benefits for the decisions in the house of representatives next year, proving that the union of a small team can make a big difference.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
Based on the lectures that happened throughout my Leadership development class one of the main skills that a leader must provide is leading by Serving. That was particularly one of the aspects that I’ve put in practice throughout my endeavor. The certainty that before leading others to a better way of living, it is necessary to listen and keep the respect of other points of view. Since serving to a diversity of culture people, requires thinking critically in different situations. Also, as one of the supports that I received in the process of articulating a vision on my endeavor, I took the time to analyze my goals and my expectations. Similarly, the challenge of building a team, but mostly the importance of being part of a team. Since it comes with multiple ways of thinking and ideas combined. Thankfully, The Honors in Action team opened their doors and welcomed me to it. But being part of a team is never easy because everyone counts with each other which represents a huge responsibility and compromise.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?
One of the main characteristics of my endeavor that I could easily relate to my leadership class is the empowering of others. When it comes to teams and groups motivation is necessary, and I believe that the empowerment that was given in the team that I was part of was crucial for the function of the team. Communication was key to program the activities and look after the positive outcome of them, such as planning and supervising the materials needed to construct the activity with success.
Ty Worked with the City of Mesa as a Census Ambassador
What class is this for?
HON 201
What tasks did you do at your service site?
As my role of involvement, I have been the lead census ambassador for the Red Mountain MCC campus. As the lead census ambassador at that campus, I have had the opportunity to recruit other census ambassadors, table at the Red Mountain campus to raise awareness for the census, participate in various activities and direct the logistics of our participation in the Veterans Day Parade.
What was your favorite part of your experience?
My favorite part of my service-learning endeavor has been participating in big events where our outreach to the community and the impact of our action was highly visible. The two events that I have enjoyed the most were the Veterans Day parade and the Celebrate Mesa activity. At both of these events I was able to take on a very active role in spreading awareness about the Census to the city of Mesa.
What was your greatest impact through this experience?
We were able to obtain well over our initial goal of 500 census pledges which reflects on the number of people we spoke to and invited to take the Census in 2020. We made a concerted effort to reach out to the Latino population in Mesa as well by making social media videos in Spanish. course-concepts Some concepts that I understand better from the course after serving at my service site are articulating a vision, building a team, being a servant-leader, leading with goals and realizing change.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?
The most important principle that I have learned and had reinforced from this project is that to create a long lasting and big change the efforts of many people are needed. By small and simple actions we have been able to realize as a team a change far greater than anything we could have done alone.
Ally worked 19 hours for the Special Olympics help make the Bocce ball tournament a success.
What class is this for?
HON201
What tasks did you do at your service site?
I was in charge of awards, and did anything else that needed to be done.
What was your favorite part of your experience?
I loved seeing the smiles on the athletes faces.
What was your greatest impact through this experience?
I offered a helping hand in a situation where it was much needed.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
I understand empowering others, making decisions, guiding through conflict, and leading with goals.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?
I can be a leader regardless of the situation or who the people involved are.
Landon worked 30 hours developing a video voter registration for the Center for Community & Civic Engagement.
What class is this for?
HON 201
What tasks did you do at your service site?
At our Red Mountain Campus, I applied to be a Fellow through the Campus Election Engagement Project. My duties were helping students register to vote and leading and organizing voter awareness events.
What was your favorite part of your experience?
I thoroughly enjoyed the personal conversations I had with students and families on the importance of being an active and engaged American Citizen. So many college students are not registered to vote because they feel it is too hard or time consuming. It was rewarding to help them see the simplicity behind it.
What was your greatest impact through this experience?
I helped establish a permanent student voter registration position at the Red Mountain Campus. After my time is completed I will be recruiting someone else to fill in my spot.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site?
I learned the importance of communication in effective leadership. When events were well marketed, and information was passed out to the students ahead of time, we found that they ran much more smooth.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience?
My vote really does matter! I can vote for local elections and see real change in a short period of time. If there's a policy or rule in the government or in my career field I disagree with, I can advocate for change.
Marisa served 70.5 hours with Boyce Thompson Arboretum
What class is this for?
HON 201 Leadership Development: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives with Duane Oakes
What tasks did you do at your service site: I organized the Family Day event with the Education Director on site and met with volunteers to make the event go as smoothly as possible. My responsibilities included coordination with vendors and volunteers about locations/hours they needed to arrive at, gathering and sorting supplies, inventory, meetings with vendors, moving tables and chairs, setting up directional signs, creating and fine-tuning fliers and charts to help event go smoother, writing emails and thank you notes, assembling bags and hole punching papers.
What was your favorite part of your experience? My favorite part was actually riding around in the carts, and not because it was fun. I actually enjoyed bringing people the supplies they needed, and moving from one place to another to answer questions and concerns with ease.
What was your greatest impact through this experience? I think the biggest impact I made was actually on the staff. I was told many times from various people that they needed this kind of organization for events and that they really enjoyed that I came on board.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site? I actually understand being a servant leader much better. I made my mistakes, but I only ever felt like I wasn't on track, when I let the volunteers down. Serving the people that you rely on to make things work is a no-brainer now. Without the worker ants, the colony wouldn't survive.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience? The most important principle that I learned was actually during my evaluation. My service supervisor actually told me that all of the vendors got a little emotional and really appreciated the thank you notes I made for them. She then went on to say how she periodically gives her staff gifts when its a rough time during the season and everyone gets stressed out. She told me that keeping up this morale and just showing that you appreciate the work that other people do is very important.
Jari served 33 hours with Future for Kids
What class is this for?
HON 201 Leadership Development: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives with Duane Oakes
What tasks did you do at your service site: My role was to be a mentor to five wonderful children. My responsibility was to teach them about ethics, sport and the STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineer, Arts, and Math.)
What was your favorite part of your experience? My favorite part about this experience was being able to grow a connection with my kids and being able to become a role model to them.
What was your greatest impact through this experience? Many of this kids have it tough at home, so being able to show them that they can count on me and listening to them made a huge difference with their attitude. So being able to be there for them improved so much the way that some of them behaved.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site? I believe the concept that I learned the most through this program was being able to work with different personalities. Some kids were very loud, and others wouldn't even look at me. So being able to build a relationship with all of them and learning how to work with all their personalities was one of the many things that I learned through this experiences.
What is the most important principle you learned from this experience? The most important principle I learned through this program was that listening to others and taking them in consideration even for the smallest thing can make a huge difference. Like I said before some one them have very unstable homes, so most of the time just taking one minute to appreciate just one small thing that they do can change their day.
Megan served 29.5 hours with the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
What class is this for?
HON 201 Leadership Development: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
What tasks did you do at your service site: I spent most of my time walking dogs for the shelter. Many had not been outside of their kennel for a week or more, which starts to lead to deterioration in the dog. I was able to help these animals get better quality of life while they were in the shelter, and introduce them to potential adopters. I also had some opportunities to take dogs out for day fosters, and get them out on hikes, or to parks.
What was your favorite part of your experience? My favorite part was the chance to interact with some really wonderful animals that were in horrible places. There were many sweet animals that only needed some care and love, and having the opportunity to provide them with that even just for a bit was very wonderful.
What have you gained from this experience? I have gained a deeper understanding of how even simple things, like walking dogs, can make a big impact. My simple act of volunteering to walk dogs helps improve the lives of many dogs stuck in a shelter, as well as perhaps help some of them find homes. Not every act of service needs to be a big gesture - the little things make all the difference.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site? I started my volunteer work for a leadership class. I learned a lot about how to be a servant leader, and how to take responsibility and initiative to make changes you want to see. I felt that I grew in my ability to be a strong leader, even in simple tasks.
Michael served 24 hours with the Mesa Police Department
What class is this for?
HON 201 Leadership Development: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
What tasks did you do at your service site: I organized a cell phone drive to collect phones for people to use as 911 phones in emergency situations.
What was your favorite part of your experience? We were able to help so many people collecting 288 phones.
What have you gained from this experience? From this experience I learned how to organize a project and lead and create flyers and get the word out that there is a need for old, retired phones.
What concepts did you understand better from your class (if it's service-learning) or on the subject or (if it is civic engagement) after serving at your service site? I learned how to plan this project and organize handouts and go to different businesses to put drop boxes.