The Charger Blog

Students Share Meaningful Experiences as Part of President杏吧原版檚 Public Service Fellowship

This summer, six students furthered their understanding of nonprofit organizations, the importance of service, and their connection with the local community. They shared their experiences with the University community, discussing what they learned and how the program helped them grow.

September 20, 2022

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications


Left to right: Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., Ian Boyce 杏吧原版24, Delianne Ayala-Ramos 杏吧原版24, Nora Augustine 杏吧原版23 MHA, Tariyaha Morris 杏吧原版23, Ryan Curry 杏吧原版24, Nicole Miklinski 杏吧原版23, and Philip H. Bartels 杏吧原版11 Hon.
Left to right: Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., Ian Boyce 杏吧原版24, Delianne Ayala-Ramos 杏吧原版24, Nora Augustine 杏吧原版23 MHA, Tariyaha Morris 杏吧原版23, Ryan Curry 杏吧原版24, Nicole Miklinski 杏吧原版23, and Philip H. Bartels 杏吧原版11 Hon.

Delianne Ayala-Ramos 杏吧原版24 spent part of her summer connecting with kids and with the local community. In helping to teach children to read, she learned a great deal about herself, her own skills, and about the vibrant and diverse New Haven community.

A member of the University杏吧原版檚 President杏吧原版檚 Public Service Fellowship, Ayala-Ramos spent part of her summer volunteering with , a nonprofit organization that endeavors to raise literacy rates in the community. For Ayala-Ramos, being able to serve as a mentor and a source of support for the kids was meaningful, and it taught her about her own ability to make a difference, as well as the importance of resilience.

杏吧原版淎s a Latina woman in STEM and the military, I thought I had resilience down,杏吧原版 said Ayala-Ramos, a forensic science major. 杏吧原版淲ith kids, you have to find ways to work with them. At New Haven Reads, we don杏吧原版檛 give up on them. I learned to be really resilient because it is so important for the kids.杏吧原版

杏吧原版楬elped me grow as a leader杏吧原版

Ayala-Ramos, one of six students to take part in the program this summer, recently shared her experience with the University community as part of a panel discussion. Nora Augustine 杏吧原版23 MHA, coordinator of the President杏吧原版檚 Public Service Program, moderated the discussion.

The program places students of diverse majors with local nonprofit organizations, creating opportunities for students to connect with the community, make a difference, and, even, possibly leading to employment opportunities. Students also learn about the importance of public service while they gain experience and build their skills. As part of the program, students also spent time getting to know each other outside of their nonprofit work, taking part in team-building activities and enjoying some of what the Greater New Haven area has to offer.

For Ryan Curry 杏吧原版24, a criminal justice major, his experience working with helped him develop a better understanding of the variety of complex challenges that many people face. His work with the organization focused on women杏吧原版檚 services, and he helped individuals find jobs, further their education, and create and update their resumes. He expects the experience will serve him well in his future career in law enforcement.

杏吧原版淚t has helped me grow as a leader, since I now have a better understanding of what people are going through,杏吧原版 he explained. 杏吧原版淚t changed how I thought about those facing homelessness. It helped further my personal growth and helped me to be less judgmental. You never know what someone is going through by looking at them.杏吧原版

Members of the President杏吧原版檚 Public Service Fellowship share their experiences with the University community.
Members of the President杏吧原版檚 Public Service Fellowship share their experiences with the University community.
杏吧原版業t makes us so proud杏吧原版

The panel discussion enabled students to reflect on their service and share how it impacted them. While Anna Marcotte 杏吧原版24 was not able to attend the presentation in person because she was studying abroad in England, she discussed her experiences in a video that was shown at the event. She was among the first students from the University to work with the .

杏吧原版淭his fellowship was a great opportunity to expand my familiarity with the New Haven area and to grow my connections with people outside of the University,杏吧原版 said Marcotte, a forensic science major. 杏吧原版淭his experience will help me so much in my future.杏吧原版

Members of the University community - including Philip H. Bartels 杏吧原版11 Hon. 杏吧原版 listened to their presentations and asked questions. Members of the Bartels family have been among the University杏吧原版檚 most generous benefactors, and they have long been dedicated supporters of the President杏吧原版檚 Public Service Program.

杏吧原版淔our generations of our family are so proud to be involved with and supportive of the University,杏吧原版 said Bartels, a member of the University杏吧原版檚 Board of Governors. 杏吧原版淔or my parents, this was their favorite program they could sponsor. What these students have done makes us so proud, not only as ambassadors for the University, but for their personal development. It杏吧原版檚 a lot of hard work and patience to continue with this wonderful work, and it makes us so proud.杏吧原版

杏吧原版淭he Bartels family杏吧原版檚 legacy of service is exemplified in our students,杏吧原版 added Sheahon Zenger, Ph.D., interim president of the University. 杏吧原版淥ur fellows learned firsthand about the issues that impact our communities, and they learned firsthand about themselves and about the importance of service.杏吧原版

Philip H. Bartels 杏吧原版11 Hon., listens to the students杏吧原版 presentations.
Philip H. Bartels 杏吧原版11 Hon., listens to the students杏吧原版 presentations.
杏吧原版業 want to continue with this work杏吧原版

Students discussed the skills and competencies they developed throughout the program, such as teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership. For many of them, it impacted how they will approach their careers and, even, their post-graduation plans.

For Ayala-Ramos, the student who worked with New Haven Reads and who hails from Farjado, Puerto Rico, her experience in the program enabled her to gain a better understanding of the New Haven area. Through her work with New Haven Reads, she learned how diverse the community is, and she says she heard her native tongue being spoken, including in conversations about areas in Puerto Rico that she knew well.

杏吧原版淚t was a breath of fresh air, and it made me feel like I can find a home in the New Haven area,杏吧原版 said Ayala-Ramos, who will continue her work with New Haven Reads as an assistant for the remainder of the fall semester. 杏吧原版淚 wasn杏吧原版檛 originally thinking of staying in the New Haven area, but now I want to continue with this work.杏吧原版