Posted on Friday, December 01, 2023
For Lindsey Green, the senior Servant Scholars’ capstone “Project Visible” is more than just a class assignment. It’s an eye-opening experience that has shown her how simply being a mentor and companion for people in the invisible segments of society can make all the difference.
“We all deserve to feel as though we are loved and cared for,” she said. “Unfortunately, many of the children exhibiting low literacy rates are neglected and left behind by our broader society. The same is true for the exceptional needs community.”
Bridging the campus and community
Assistant Political Science Professor Jeff Lukken, Director of the Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars Program, said the cohort’s project is two-fold.
“One of the capstone’s components includes an immersive effort to help mentally and physically disabled adults within our community,” he said. “Working with The Exceptional Way and The Miracle League, the Scholars are engaging their clients—or their ‘friends’ or ‘buddies’—to expand their life skills, interest in reading, social interactions, and ability to find more joy and satisfaction in their daily challenges. Another effort involves assisting in early childhood literacy programs in Troup County schools, in early childhood learning centers and through the "Jungle Bus,” a bookmobile that travels within the county.”
Before volunteering with the literacy programs, Lukken said the Scholars went through a brief training session.
“This allowed them to understand the community's literacy needs and how best to engage children from one-year old toddlers to elementary school students,” he said. “The Scholars understand the damage caused by the "COVID gap" in many children who have experienced lost learning opportunities and regression in their reading skills. Through book donations, reading sessions, mentoring and encouragement, the Scholars are making a difference in the lives of these children that will impact careers, socialization and family skills.”
Building friendships
For those in the exceptional needs community, Lukken said the Scholars created Campus Circles, an LC student organization that introduces these adults to the campus, to other LaGrange College students, and to college sports and social activities throughout the year.
“The organization, funding and college student recruitment has been an incredible success and should continue to serve these adults with disabilities for many years after the seniors have graduated,” he said.
Green said the Scholars also implemented a book club at The Exceptional Way, an adult day center for those with disabilities.
“Every week, we read with the participants and then complete an activity with them based on the reading,” she said.
Green said the Scholars also serve as companions for adults at The Exceptional Way.
“Through Campus Circles, we have taken the participants to events at the college and in the community,” she said. “This club has been essential in showing me the importance of friendship and visibility to the exceptional needs community.”
Lukken said the Senior Scholars have shown an incredible capacity to serve the community with compassion and understanding.
“They understand their roles and the incredible opportunities to help LaGrange and to engage LaGrange College students in these service offerings,” he said. “The Scholars will have served over 3500 hours while in the Wilkinson Family Servant Scholar program as they worked together to learn and create and serve. They have built valuable relationships with each other and within the community, and their efforts will benefit the Troup County area for years to come.”
The Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars program teaches juniors and seniors different styles of leadership, principles of Servant Leadership and ideals of service.
“Through the continued generosity and guidance of Jerry Wilkinson and his family, the Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars is the only ‘live, work and learn’ service program in the country,” Lukken said.
Students interested in joining next year’s class of Scholars can apply on the program’s website. The deadline is January 29, 2024.
LaGrange College Political Science students Eli Rogers ’26, Jenna Pittman ’26, Parker Floyd ’25, Makayla Page ’27 and Daniel Cody ’25 along with Professor John Tures shared the Hines Undergraduate Research Award at the Georgia Political Science Association annual meeting in St. Simon’s Island. In addition, the Association named Dr. Tures the recipient of the James T. LaPlant Award, which honors outstanding student teachers and mentors at either the undergraduate or graduate level.At the conference, Rogers spoke about how counties with lynching memorials compare economically, politically and demographically with counties that had lynchings but don't memorialize them. Pittman and Cody talked about the economics of parks like the Okefenokee Swamp getting a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Dr. Tures and Floyd presented undergraduate research their class did on low-income housing tax credits offered by states. Dr. Tures also joined Page for a presentation from an in-class project on how common law and code law countries differ with regard to protecting freedom and fighting corruption.
Safety Conversation
Monday, Dec. 4
4 p.m., Dickson Assembly Room
Registration Party
Tuesday, Dec. 5
11 a.m., Caswell Plaza and Lewis Library
Master the Bow Tie
Wednesday, Dec. 6
11 a.m., Bailey Room
WAV Music Recital
Thursday, Dec. 7
7 p.m., West Side A110
Coming in 2024 to Price Theater
Men’s Basketball
The Panthers have had a weeklong break from competition. The team gets back to playing against Pensacola Christian on Saturday, Dec. 2 (tomorrow). The away game will tip off at 5 p.m. On Sunday, the team will travel to Homewood, Alabama to face Samford in an exhibition game at 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Panthers will play in their only home match in December against Point. This game tips off at 7:30 p.m. following the Women’s Basketball game.
Freshman Samuel Moss earned his first CCS Rookie of the Week award. In his five games played, the freshman guard leads the Panthers in scoring with 15.2 points per contest. He averages 35 percent from the field and an incredible 46 percent from beyond the arc.
Women’s Basketball
LaGrange took a weeklong break from competition. The Panthers will face Ashbury on Friday, Dec. 1 (today), at 7 p.m. On Saturday, they will take on Regent at noon. Both games are being held at Covenant College. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Panthers will take on Point at 5:30 p.m. at home. Following this game, the Men’s Basketball team will also face Point.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, Dec. 1 – Women’s Basketball vs. Asbury (@Covenant), 7 p.m., Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Saturday, Dec. 2 – Women’s Basketball vs. Regent (@Covenant), noon, Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Saturday, Dec. 2 – Men’s Basketball at Pensacola Christian, 5 p.m., Pensacola, Florida
Wednesday, Dec. 6 – Women’s Basketball (Home) vs. Point, 5:30 p.m., Mariotti Gym
Wednesday, Dec. 6 – Men’s Basketball (Home) vs. Point, 7:30 p.m., Mariotti Gym
Category: Community, Academics, Service
Keywords: Leadership, Scholars
