Hastings College Vice-President of Student Affairs Dr. Ron Chesbrough and students Anna Mullen ’11, Des Moines, Iowa, and Megan Worthman ’10, Greeley, Colo., received awards at the 7th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Consortium for Service Learning in Higher Education (MCSLHE) held at Doane College in Crete, Neb., on Saturday, October 2. MCSLHE is a regional association composed of 28 colleges and universities in a three state area (Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa).

Dr. Ron Chesbrough received the MCSLHE Service Learning Research Award for his mixed methodology research studying why students volunteer and the variables that influence their service including: gender, year in school, and amount of service performed. Ron’s research has been featured in the “Chronicle of Higher Education” and “Student Affairs Leader.” His publications include an article on “Engaging Men in Service: Lessons from Hastings College” (co-authored with Dr. Daniel Deffenbaugh) in the edited book “College Men: Discovering What Works and Why” and a forthcoming journal article in the “Journal of College Student Development.” The Service Learning Research Award honors a faculty/staff member or graduate/undergraduate student who has shown outstanding commitment to the exploration of service-learning through research and the promotion of the scholarship of engagement among his/her colleagues.

Senior Anna Mullen and Megan Worthman (now at seminary at Candler School of Theology at Emory University) received the MCSLHE Student Commendation in Service-Learning for their leadership in the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week efforts in 2009-2010 campaign on campus. This student group raised awareness of issues around hunger and homelessness. Activities included a Hunger Banquet, an Open Table sack lunch program to feed the hungry locally, a Kids Against Hunger HC Does Weekends event that packaged 30,000 meals for children in Haiti, a Chapel worship service, and advocacy through letter writing to congressional leaders (through Bread for the World). The Student Commendation in Service-Learning award honors an undergraduate or group of undergraduates who showed exceptional leadership, citizenship, and commitment through service-learning; demonstrated innovative and sustained approaches to address an issue in the community; and/or advanced the service-learning infrastructure of their institution.

Hastings College was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for its exemplary community service, innovative service-learning programs and demonstrated commitment to strengthening the community.
Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,150 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

For more information, contact Dr. M. Jean Heriot at (402) 461-7770.