Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Photo Provided by Diane Hotalling

Local community recognizes Wesleyan volunteers

By Heather Templeton

hntempleton@vwc.edu

Two of Wesleyan s students were recognized April 28 at the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Partners in Education reception at the ciy s Convocation Center. They were recognized as Model Partners of the Year for their work with students in neighboring schools.

Antwanna Baker, a sophomore from Rockland County, N.Y., and Leon Spinner, a sophomore from Bedford, Va., have both spent this school year organizing programs and volunteers to give back to the youth in the Virginia Beach area.

Baker is linked with Bettie F. Williams Elementary School, part of the Bayside Tri Campus, as the Student Outreach Coordinator for Youth (SOC). In her role she works with Eagles Excel in Education (Triple E), a grant-funded program that brings children and their parents together for an evening meal one day a week over eight weeks.

 Antwanna has participated in the program since October 2008 and has brought energy, knowledge and passion for helping others to the program; without her involvement and leadership, the program would not have been as successful as it has been over the past year, said Melissa Asaro, Triple E program coordinator.

Triple E promotes quality family time and parental involvement with their children s academics. Baker and her volunteers tutored the children or led them in activities after dinner while their parents were in classes.

 I choose to give up my spare time because like the old saying says,  It takes a village to raise a child,  said Baker.  Growing up, my village was good to me, so it s only fair that I be a positive contributing factor in someone else s.

Spinner s volunteer efforts were put into the Diamond Springs Elementary School Marlin Reads Program. The program evolved from a donation organized by Lena Johnson, director of international and intercultural programs. Johnson, the Black Student Union and the English Department sponsored a book donation which led to the creation of the program.

 Leon worked for Lena, then rose to the task of developing this reading program, said Diane Hotaling, director of community service.  Now he works with the Reading Specialist at the school to match up Wesleyan students with kindergartners in reading partnerships that meet for 30 minutes.

Spinner and his group of volunteers have worked with the kindergartners every other week since October.

 I d still be doing it, he said when asked what the recognition meant to him.  I think they play just as vital a role in our lives as we play in theirs.

Baker and Spinner are no strangers to the office of community service and spend large amounts of time outside their own programs giving back. Both stress their desire to be a positive influence on the children.

 Children imitate everything, said Baker.  If they see someone they perceive as a role model act immorally, they will do it, just because you did. And the opposite also applies; if they see you performing good deeds, they may not understand why you did. But they ll grow up, reminisce on their childhood, and say this is the way to live.

Both students now work as work study students within the office but were not paid to begin their projects. They both feel that volunteering with children is something that they are meant to do.

 It feels good that someone thinks highly of my work, but I m not in it for the recognition, said Baker.  This is what I do, and I probably won t quit until I m cripple.