The Save Our Students group from the Hastings College course, “Communications, Consultation, and Collaborative Partnerships” taught by Dr. Judy Hall, received the 2009 Judy Sandeen Service Award at the One Campus, One Community Luncheon on April 22, 2009. Dr. Hall is an associate professor of teacher education at Hastings College.

Students who received the award are listed below with their hometowns:

Chandra Criss – Sargent, Neb.
Jackie Engelhardt – Kenesaw, Neb.
Brenda Gundvaldson – Gretna, Neb.
Rebecca Hartline – Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Natalie Husmann – Phillips, Neb.
Hannah Kucera – Hastings, Neb.
Holly Leth – Grand Island, Neb.
Lloyd McIntyre – Hastings, Neb.
Scottie Shaw – Hastings, Neb.
Wendy Nicklin – Papillion, Neb.

The students organized and executed outstanding service to middle school and high school youth in the Hastings community at the after school program, The Zone. They raised awareness of The Zone, especially after The Zone lost a significant portion of its funding and was in danger of closing.

The group volunteered and made sure there were enough volunteers at the Zone so they could do with fewer paid staff. In addition, they learned how to write and rewrite grants. They received grants from the Kemper Envision Grants, the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Flowserve Pump Division, Nebraska ASFAA and Education Quest. The students also held fundraisers. To date the group has raised more than $15,000 for The Zone.

The award honors the legacy of service that Judy Sandeen, retired director of health services at Hastings College, developed through her many years of facilitating outstanding, nationally recognized peer education programs at Hastings College.