April 10, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s American Humanics (Nonprofit Administration) program has recognized the accomplishments of three local organizations and has selected the second recipient of its community partnership program.
At the 1st Annual Nonprofit Excellence Award Reception April 1 at the L&N Depot, the WKU program presented First Choice Home Medical with the Philanthropic Business Award, The Save Our Kids Coalition with the Emerging Nonprofit Organization Award and the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission with the Established Nonprofit Organization Award.
The WKU American Humanics (Nonprofit Administration) Student Association also selected Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana as the 2008-09 recipient of its community partnership program.
The students will work with the Girls Scouts of Kentuckiana in the creation of a new Interest Patch Project/Badge/Try-It that is age appropriate for the grade levels defined in the GSUSA 2008 Realignment. Students will plan and execute a Girl Scout Disc Golf Field Day for the 15 counties in the Caveland Service Center jurisdiction. The program will then culminate in a community-wide Disc Golf Tournament Event.
The students also will assist with marketing, fiscal management and volunteer development for the project. This yearlong effort of organization and implementation will allow students to gain invaluable practical experience within the Greater Bowling Green Nonprofit Community. These students are working with the Friends of Lost River, Inc., the first recipient of the community partnership.
The community partnership program, modeled after an initiative in the University of Northern Iowa’s American Humanics program, is designed to provide students with experiences which help them develop professional competencies and work toward the national American Humanics Nonprofit Certification.
The partnership program also was implemented with the goal of WKU’s Quality Enhancement Plan (http://www.wku.edu/Dept/Support/AcadAffairs/engage/index.htm) in mind: “Students will engage with communities other than their own in purposeful learning activities that explicitly address their capacity and responsibility to contribute to community and society.” The outcomes of this goal include: “1. Students will demonstrate their capacity to apply knowledge and training to address relevant concerns in community or society. 2. Students will demonstrate respect for diversity of people, ideas, and cultures. 3. Students will demonstrate awareness of their opportunities as responsible citizens working and living in a global society.”
The WKU American Humanics (Nonprofit Administration) program is housed in the Department of Physical Education and Recreation within the College of Health and Human Services. American Humanics is a national alliance of colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations that prepares and certifies college students for professional careers in youth and human service agencies. American Humanics is affiliated with colleges and universities nationwide including WKU, and partners with national nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts of America, Girls Inc., Girl Scouts of the USA, Humane Society, Junior Achievement, March of Dimes, National 4-H Council, YMCA, and the United Way.
More information about WKU’s program is available online at www.wku.edu/AH.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Raymond Poff at (270) 745-2498.
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