Coordinators of the Academic Service Learning initiative are collaborating with the
Student Leadership and Activities office to host the first Service Summit at Ferris
State University on Tuesday, Nov. 8 beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The Service Summit includes breakout sessions in the Rankin Student Center beginning at 11 a.m. The sessions feature Michigan Campus Compact VISTA/Americorp, in the Centennial Dining Room; the Ferris Volunteer Center, in the Mecosta Room; and a “How to” on Academic Service Learning, in the Whitney Young Room.
“This is the first year for this event and we’re excited to bring faculty, staff, students and community partners together,” said Stephanie Thomson, co-coordinator of Academic Service Learning and an associate professor of Communication at Ferris. “We will have exhibits by community partners looking for volunteers and faculty interested in new service learning projects. Other displays will include past Academic Service Learning projects from Ferris faculty.”
The Service Summit will feature displays and exhibits by community and faculty members in the Rankin Student Center. Later in the day, information tables and exhibits from local organizations will be set up in the lobby of Ferris’ Williams Auditorium in anticipation of the keynote address, scheduled for 7 p.m.
The summit’s keynote speaker, Chad Pregracke, is founder and president of Living Lands and Waters, a nonprofit organization that strives to aid restoration and awareness of the environment of rivers and promote stewardship.
“It’s the little things that really do add up,” Pregracke said. “And, if a lot of people come together and do those little things, it adds up to big things.”
Summit organizers believe that Pregracke epitomizes the attitude that is necessary to move communities, cities, states, the nation and world forward.