Summer 2009 Grant Recipients
In our inaugural year, 2009, we received over ten applications from interested students. We awarded four grants to the following students:
Heather Curl (EdD ’12), who traveled to Zambia to work in both a community and government school providing professional development to teachers, believes that “Central to this [promoting open minds and working faith] is a respect of others’ lived experiences, and the understanding that much personal growth can happen from learning from another’s life through engaged listening and direct action in response to learning."
Edward Faustin (Design ’11) traveled to Ghana to work with the Yonso Project. Eddie shared from Romans 8:28 and stated he “firmly believe[s] that we are called to use our talents and gifts that have been bestowed upon us by our creator to do things that promote goodwill in the world and to be a blessing to others."
George Werner (MSW ’09) returned to his home country of Liberia to be of service to the social work students at the Mother Pattern School of Nursing and Social Work in Monrovia. He believes “that the quality of one’s presence promotes open minds and working faith” as well as “allow[ing] and enabl[ing] learners to reflect and consider the implications of what they are learning.
Nse-Abasi Umoh (C’09, Design ’11), who is currently in Nigeria to work with Social and Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) shared the scripture from the book of James about faith with no deeds. She believes “as someone who strives to be a Christian in the fullest sense, it is imperative that I submit to this mandate to accompany my faith with action and respond to, what I believe is my calling to spend this year in Nigeria working with SERAC.”