MYCP - Monroe Youth Challenge Program

Press Releases:

State Farm Grant Sends 5 Monroe County Youth to Service Learning Conference in Orlando

UPPER KEYS, Fla. (692 words) – Five Monroe County students attended a three-day conference on service learning where they were taught these character elements of leadership; patience, courage, strength, integrity, inclusion, passion, and diversity. And they loved it! Eric Pettit, a sophomore at Marathon High School said, “The conference was three wonderful days of inspiration and kids that are motivated to learn and serve. We want to use this experience to create our own retreat and inspire kids here!” Thanks to a $1,500 grant from State Farm, Monroe Youth Challenge Program and partner Monroe County 4-H Extension, adult leaders took Pettit, Marathon High School Junior Katie Greenman, Marathon High School Sophomore Brittany Violette, Plantation Key School 7th Grader Samantha Vonnegut and Coral Shores High School Sophomore Xotchil Musser to the 12th Annual Florida Service-Learning Institute. It was held November 6-8 at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center, Orlando.

Photo Credit: MYCP
Marathon High School Sophomore Eric Pettit, Marathon High School Junior Katie Greenman, Marathon High School Sophomore Brittany Violette, Plantation Key School 7th Grader Samantha Vonnegut, Coral Shores High School Sophomore Xotchil Musser, and Monroe County 4-H Extension Agent, Kim Coldicott in a parting shot, energized after spending three days at the 12th Annual Florida Service-Learning Institute held earlier this month in Orlando. Monroe Youth Challenge Program District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter, who also attended, took this photo.

The purpose of the State Farm grant is to assist students involved in hurricane recovery and preparation which is the main focus of Seasons of Service Team, or SOS a youth club in which each of the five students are members. Monroe County School District received the funding from State Farm to send the SOS members to the conference for training in Service Learning. The 4-H SOS Team program is a collaboration with Monroe Youth Challenge Program led by MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter, 4-H Extension Agent Kim Coldicott, and the American Red Cross Keys branch led by Branch Manager Grace Connors. After a full year of training, the 4-H SOS Team members are prepared to provide outreach education in the areas of hurricane awareness/preparation and serve their communities in the event that response and recovery efforts are needed.

Sutter and Coldicott along with Marathon High School Science Teacher and SOS Team Faculty Sponsor Sarah Fabian selected the five-student team to attend the conference. Sutter said, “The selection was based upon membership in the SOS Team and attendance at the recent SOS Team Retreat and commitment to ongoing service.”

The conference was divided into four tracks; Beginner, Veteran, Train the Trainer, and Youth. Eleven teachers and administrators from all regions of Monroe County School District also attended the conference with the Learn and Serve Coordinator for Monroe County School District, Sunny Booker.

The Florida Service-Learning Institute goals and objectives are to:

o Provide information, training, and resources to improve and expand service-learning. o Provide information about Florida Learn & Serve grant procedures, requirements, reporting, and future funding. o Showcase exemplary activities and efforts. o Demonstrate the effectiveness of service-learning as a strategy for education, meeting needs, prevention, intervention, school-to-work, empowering youth, improving school-community relations, practicing civic values, and career opportunities. o Provide networking opportunities.

Samantha Vonnegut, a 7th grade student at Plantation Key School said, “I liked the ‘Definition: Service Learning’ session the best. After attending the conference, I would like to set up a workshop for the Upper Keys kids to help motivate them into getting involved in a service learning project.”

In school-based service-learning projects, students apply curricula and classroom learning through hands-on service projects they help design. The service must meet a real need and is both a means and an application of learning. Activities are related to important learning goals and are designed to apply specific learning objectives linked to the Sunshine State Standards. “With the Plantation Tropical Preserve and Children’s Memorial Garden Gazebo and Scrapbook as perfect examples, service learning is the combination of standards-based learning and meaningful community service that makes this such an effective teaching and learning tool,” said MYCP Chief Administrator Sunny Booker.

Katie Greenman, a junior at Marathon High School, liked the first conference session best as it was packed with intense activity to help students understand the major components of service-learning. “We learned a lot of effective strategies for service –learning, met some amazing youth leaders from around the state, and had fun doing it,” she said.

Brittany Violette, a sophomore at Marathon High School adds, “The three days at the conference really inspired me to go back to my school and get busy!” And that’s why she and the other four were selected.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information call Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to www.monroe.k12.fl.us/mycp.