33 AmeriCorps*VISTA members completed one year of national service with Ohio Campus Compact. This program details some of their reflections on their poverty alleviation efforts.
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2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Reflection Program
1. 20102011 Ohio Campus Compact
AmeriCorps*VISTAs and Site Mentors
AmeriCorps*VISTAs Campus Site Mentor
Cayla Adams Miami University Middletown Mira Smith & Eric Melbye
Grace Andrews Miami University Oxford Monica Ways
Jen Anthony Ohio State University Newark Katie Rappaport & Janet Schultz
Zach Bartush University of Cincinnati Clermont Barbara Wallace
Amanda Dever Marietta College Arielle Jennings
Raven DeVoll John Carroll University Peggy Finucane
Heather Eichner University of Mount Union Amanda Espenschied‐Reilly and
Lorie Miller
Rebecca Fensler Wright State University Cathy Sayer
Kelly Ficker Denison University Lyn Robertson & Janet Schultz
Mary Fox Central Ohio Technical College Tara Houdeshell & Janet Schultz
Stephanie Gross Heidelberg University Paul Stark
Ben Hastil Hocking College Suzanne Brooks‐Korner
Katherine Hickman Ohio Campus Compact Dick Kinsley
Mery Kanashiro Ohio Wesleyan University Sue Pasters
Katrena Kugler Defiance College Mary Ann Studer
Kristen Kuzmick Ohio State University Amy Wade
Fran Larkin University of Cincinnati Kathy Dick
Joe Lehnert Lorain County Community College Marcia Jones
Bridget Ludwa University of Akron Laura Conley
Pamela Pate Ohio University Kevin Smith
Erica Phillips Otterbein University Melissa Gilbert
Julia Provoznik Lorain County Community College Marcia Jones
Richard Shafranek Hiram College Jason Bricker‐Thompson
Nichelle Shuck Kent State University Tina Kandakai
Julia Solow John Carroll University Peggy Finucane
Gwen Stembridge University of Findlay Crystal Weitz
Jesi Stewart Notre Dame College Anthony Camino
Nancy Surella Mercy College Sr. Sally Bohnett
Kathryn Terrell John Carroll University Peggy Finucane
Zaia Thombre Marietta College Arielle Jennings
Jessica Toglia Miami University Hamilton Jen O’Brien & Kelli Johnson
Nicholas Weber Defiance College Mary Ann Studer
Gillian Wynn Wright State University Cathy Sayer
Emily Yurcich Hiram College Jason Bricker‐Thompson
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3. CAYLA ADAMS
Miami University – Middletown
It’s strange to think that I have only a couple months left before I leave. The
experience that I had through Miami University Middletown has been on
both sides of the spectrum, frustrating and calming, challenging and
effortless, sad and happy. It’s very conflicting sometimes but I suppose that
all experiences have these elements within them. I think above and beyond anything that’s happened this
year, my commitment to service has strengthened and this knowledge has begun to point me in the
direction that I want to walk. When I began thinking about post‐graduate service, I knew I wanted to do
something in a local community, so I chose Middletown because it has always been on my periphery. I
hope that I have made an impact in this community even if it is on an individual scale. My work at the
Center of Hope, seeing the women and children triumph over circumstances that are beyond their
control, has been powerful. I hope that I will be able to affect others’ lives in such ways and I hope that
they have learned as much from me, as I have from them.
Future Plans: Peace Corps!
Favorite Quote: This was said during my graduation, and I know I continually relay it to people, but I
connect with the words. "I hope that you live a serious, joyous, consequential life, that you treat every
human being as an end rather than a means to an end, and that if you cannot affect change on a macro‐
level, you can and will affect change on a micro‐level." ‐Myron Luine
GRACE ANDREWS
Miami University –Oxford
I believe that national service is a critical step in developing citizenship.
Before joining AmeriCorps, I thought of service to one’s country as military
service. Now, I understand that we can all serve our country. When I step
back and see the impact that I have had, as a dedicated citizen, through Ohio
Campus Compact, it reinvigorates my hope for the future of our communities, nation, and world. Leading
students through the transformative experiences of service and advocacy, and helping them make
personal meaning out of their experiences, has been extremely rewarding. If every college student was
encouraged to impact their communities like the students I have worked with, the results would be
unbelievable. My greatest impact, and what I will remember most, is the new perspectives I have been
able to communicate to and cultivate in students who will continue the ripples of transformation.
Favorite Quote: “It is one of the beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely help another
without helping himself.” ‐ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Future Plans: Next year I will be serving as a Corps Member for City Year Louisiana in Baton Rouge. My
vision is to introduce young students to civic engagement by connecting them with their communities
through service and leadership projects. In five years, I hope to be working full‐time in a humanitarian
effort or NGO, preferably regarding women's issues in the developing world.
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4. JEN ANTHONY
Ohio State University – Newark
My year as an AmeriCorps*VISTA has been a wonderful experience, one that I
will never forget. It has meant so much to me to be able to work in, and give
back to a community in need that is so close to my hometown. I hope that my
impact is long lasting, that the programs and initiatives continue on and are
the start of change in Newark. I had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, and the college
students that I worked with everyday were fantastic. I loved working with the students in the Newark
City School system and teaching them about the importance of education and financial literacy. I truly
believe that education is one of the key factors of alleviating poverty and I hope that my impact has begun
to change the perception of higher education. I hope that the Newark community, as a whole, believes
that every qualified student should have the opportunity to pursue education after high school. I hope
they understand the importance of education and that I have helped them understand that education can
lead to a better quality of life. Overall, I hope that people will remember me as someone who worked
hard to make our community a better place to live and learn.
Favorite Quote: “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time.
Vision with action can change the world." ‐ Joel A. Barker
Future Plans: Next year, I plan to be working in higher education at a college or university in Ohio. I
would like to continue working in community outreach as well as continuing to enhance the experience
of college students.
ZACH BARTUSH
University of Cincinnati – Clermont
OCC VISTAs are supposed to "leverage campus resources into the
community." For me, the "leveraging" part was interesting. It was not just
about getting students, staff and professors involved in addressing issues of
poverty in the community but also empowering them to do so, particularly
the students. I hope that if nothing else, the students who have volunteered or participated in service
learning courses I coordinated will become long term change agents in their local communities. The last
year has changed me in two main ways: 1.) I feel more confident in my own ability to have an impact on
the community. What I have done has not been small or easily dismissed and the testaments from
students, faculty and community partners have only served to reinforce that. 2.) I am louder. That is, I am
more of an advocate for community and social justice issues than I was before by extending my concern
over these issues into action.
Favorite Quote: My favorite quote comes from a variety of service learning students and is, essentially, "I
am going to keep working with (insert partner agency) even after the quarter ends because this is an
important issue."
Future Plans: Next year I will be in my second term as an OCC VISTA at Miami University's Oxford
campus. Five years from now I hope to be in the final couple of years of graduate school for community
psychology.
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5. AMANDA DEVER
Marietta College
Because I'll be coming back for another year of VISTA, I think it makes sense
to be a little more focused on hopes for my community and campus in my
final year as a VISTA. This past year has been all about growth for service at
Marietta College and I can't help but hope that this positive energy continues
to push the campus forward in the years to come. In the next year, I hope that the campus starts a
conversation about institutionalizing a second position on campus that will sustain the work of the VISTA
position. In addition, I hope that the campus and Marietta community continue to commit to partnership
and collaboration! On a personal level, I will remember this VISTA year as exciting, personally challenging
and ground‐breaking in the work that was done. I hope that this will continue, as the Office challenges the
community to engage in new programming, social justice dialogue and new service experiences next
year!
Future Plans: Next year, I'll be returning for one final year as the OCC VISTA at Marietta College.
RAVEN DEVOLL
John Carroll University
My year of service at John Carroll University has given me a whole new
perspective on what it means to serve others. I have learned the difference
between volunteering and true service, and I think it's amazing that the
Center for Service and Social Action at JCU stresses the idea of service. JCU
embodies what it means to be a "man or woman for and with others." This idea of service in relation to
social justice and social action has really opened my eyes to the inequities in today's world, and has
shown me that it is up to me and my peers to do something about it. I have changed as a person because I
now look for ways to use my strengths and interests to serve others. Vocational discernment is
something new I've learned while at JCU, and I understand that I don't need to be collecting food or
cleaning up a park to give back to my community. I feel like I've matured throughout my year of service
and have a better understanding of what it means to be an engaged citizen dedicated to civic
responsibility.
Favorite Quote: “Go forth and set the world on fire.” ‐ St. Ignatius Loyola
Future Plans: After my VISTA term, I plan on finding a job within a non‐profit in Northeast Ohio. Five
years into the future is hard to predict, but I would like to have an established career in the public
relations field somewhere warm!
HEATHER EICHNER
University of Mount Union
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6. REBECCA FENSLER
Wright State University
Many times this past year, I became caught up in the details surrounding the
campus food pantry‐‐how many students we were serving, how to let
students know about our services, how much money I had raised. I often
overlooked all that I had accomplished and everything I had learned. The
most important thing I have learned is that you can't feed every hungry person in the world but you can
"do the thing in front of you." Because of my experience as a VISTA, I have renewed my commitment to
fighting poverty in Ohio. I have also enjoyed my experience as a volunteer coordinator for the campus
food pantry and hope to continue working as a volunteer administrator in the future. Being a VISTA has
given my so many opportunities to use my talents and learn new skills.
Favorite Quote: "Do the thing in front of you."
Future Plans: Next year I will be returning as an OCC VISTA at Wright State University and will also be
serving as a VISTA leader. I have no five year plan!
KELLY FICKER
Denison University
As an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA I have been able to serve the
needs of a campus, a school system, and a community as a purposeful
professional. During my two years as a VISTA I have learned to work with a
mindset that is not restricted from 9‐5, but a mindset that considers the role of
one’s work beyond the confines of a building. I have also learned that it is vital to
become a member, rather than just a resident, of one's community. I am truly
grateful for all that I have experienced during my service and all those whom I have met and worked
with. In my position I have been able to work with students encompassing the levels of primary, middle,
and higher education. I have also been able to work with professionals who dedicate their careers to the
success of students as teachers, professors, and administrators. As a result, I have learned about the
structure and students of each of these levels of education, while working to understand and serve the
needs of students in a equitable and beneficial manner. As a VISTA, I also became a member of the
Newark and Granville communities. I have enjoyed meeting with fellow residents to learn and discuss the
history and current issues of these areas. With these residents, I have learned how each of us are bound
to each other and the progress of our neighborhoods, regardless of our jobs, careers, and backgrounds.
OCC AmeriCorps*VISTA has poised and motivated me to learn more about the policy that surrounds the
students and circumstances that I have worked with thus far. As I work towards a Master's in Education
Policy, my life and work as a VISTA will not leave me. I will continue to be intentional about my presence
in local and global communities which I join. In addition, I will seek a career that will allow me to work
and live for people and places, rather than just dollars and cents.
Favorite Quote: "All of us in the academy and in the culture as a whole are called to renew our minds if
we are to transform educational institutions‐‐and society‐‐so that the way we live, teach, and work can
reflect our joy in cultural diversity, our passion for justice, and our love of freedom."‐Bell Hooks
Future Plans: I will be attending the University of Washington for the Master's in Education Policy
Program. From this program, and in the next five years, I hope to figure out whether or not I am best
suited to work in the non‐profit or government sectors and find a position in the field of Education Policy.
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7. MARY FOX
Central Ohio Technical College
Prior to the start of this year my knowledge and understanding of college
access programming and the struggles plaguing Licking County, and more
specifically the Newark Community, was quite limited. I abstractly knew of
college access programs, primarily just that there were programs such as
Upward Bound, Gear Up and The Posse Foundation in existence. I had read the books by Kozol, knew of
the Harlem Children’s Zone, and through some of my own experiences knew the repercussions associated
with High Drop Out. But like I said, for the most part my understanding was academic. It was abstract.
Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to integrate and engage myself in the Newark Community.
I have had to face college access, or the lack thereof, in a very real and concrete way. This has occurred
through my involvement with the following schools and organizations: Newark City Schools (Elementary:
John Clem, Cherry Valley, McGuffey, Hillview, Ben Franklin, Legend; Middle School: Liberty, Wilson,
Heritage; and Newark High School), Par Excellence Academy, Licking Valley High School, United Way,
Closing the Achievement Gap, Good Guides, Goodwill Youthworks, A Call to College, YES Clubhouse, C‐
TEC, etc. From this involvement I have had a variety of experiences that have highlighted to me two
things. First, that college going is intertwined within the culture of a community. Because it is a part of a
culture, it is thus part of many individuals’ reality that college just isn’t possible. This has been expressed
to me by students as young as 2nd grade. Second, that this community has a great deal of potential. While,
there is a culture in which we are battling in our effort to increase high school graduation and college‐
going rates, there are individuals and organizations that are greatly invested in making this happen, even
with the understanding that it takes time to change a culture within a community. That being said, I am
one of those individuals who sees the potential, who wants the change, and who knows the commitment
necessary to make such a change.
Favorite Quote: "We are indeed a small boat attempting to cross a formidable, yet exciting to explore,
ocean. If each of us rows hard, in unison and with our collective eyes enthusiastically set on the horizon,
we will indeed continue to make great progress. I really am excited to have each of you as my 'crew'." ‐
Janet Schultz, taken from an email written at the beginning of the year by our site mentor, Janet Schultz,
addressed to Kelly Ficker, Jen Anthony, and myself
Future Plans: I am returning to do a second year of VISTA at Central Ohio Technical College.
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8. STEPHANIE GROSS
Heidelberg University
Working for Ohio Campus Compact this past year has been an incredible
experience. I have learned more than I ever imagined, and grew stronger in
my commitment to service through the experience. I hope that I have
impacted not only Heidelberg University, but the Tiffin community by
building stronger partnerships with community agencies, and creating campus traditions in service. I
think that OCC plays a vital role in serving Ohio's communities, and I hope that Tiffin continues to benefit
from the programs and support that OCC offers. Working as an OCC VISTA has transformed the way I saw
the small community where I went to college for four years, teaching me that severe poverty exists
everywhere, but so do the extraordinary people that are fighting to change this harsh reality.
Future Plans: I am planning to continue with Campus Compact in South Carolina at the University of
South Carolina in Columbia.
BEN HASTIL
Hocking College
When I think of my past year as a VISTA, one thing that comes to mind is the
day‐to‐day work. Planning meetings, responding to e‐mails, developing
polices or procedures, sending reminders, prioritizing tasks, and so on—the
critical work by which everything gets done, but also the work in the weeds.
In the midst of things, I hold my hand out and can’t see it because there’s so much to do and to plan
growing up around me. I was raised, though, in a family that was highly engaged in social movements and
activism, and as a teenager I was mentored by and learned from activists involved in many different
struggles for justice. I learned at a young age the legitimacy and humanity of the struggles for justice of
those of us who are oppressed, and saw how “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I
grew up dreaming about a world that can sustain more hope, creativity, joy, imagination, life, justice, and
love, and is a world within which we can all fit. So, when I think of my past year as a VISTA, I am also
reminded that I do this work in the weeds because of the desire I share with others to create a better
world.
Future Plans: Next year, I will be working as a VISTA Leader in Athens, Ohio with a non‐profit called the
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD), which supports community action agencies in
southeastern Ohio. Ultimately, in the future, I hope to invest myself in committed and accountable
relationships with a diversity of individuals who are also addressing power disparities, prejudice,
violence, and inequality from the “bottom up.” I hope to be involved in empowering the communities I am
part of in coming together to become more accountable and responsible for our collective social,
economic, political, and environmental health.
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9. KATHERINE HICKMAN
Ohio Campus Compact
This year really reminded me of the fact that you don't have to go far to find
people who need help. I've grown up in this area [Licking County], and I am
still amazed by the diversity of people living in such a small geographical area.
It seems like every day I learn something new about the community that I
thought I had known so well. Furthermore, this experience really reaffirmed my goal to teach High School
English in Licking County. I feel that I have so much that I can both learn and give in Central Ohio, and
AmeriCorps*VISTA helped to open my eyes in ways which I can make the biggest impact.
Future Plans: I am starting the M.Ed program at Ohio State starting this summer. In five years, I will
hopefully be teaching in the Licking County area.
MERY KANASHIRO
Ohio Wesleyan University
Throughout my time as an undergraduate psychology and sociology student
at Ohio Wesleyan University, I learned much theoretically and abstractly
about issues such as poverty and inequality in America and their potential
root causes. However, while being educated on items such as government
policy and theories of social justice is key to developing a full understanding of
how to make sustaining change, I have found that my AmeriCorps experience has done more to help me
truly grasp issues facing low‐income populations than anything else I have done to this point. While I
have lived in Delaware, Ohio for the past five years, I have never been as immersed and felt as much of a
sense of connection to my community as I have over the past year. Working with community partners,
helping grassroots organizations find their footing, and networking them all with students and their
passions has helped me to combine idealism with practicality to motivate change. I believe that there is
so much work to be done domestically, and committing a year to full‐time service has given me a whole
new set of applicable skills and a renewed commitment to help remain a life‐long engaged citizen.
Favorite Quote:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should Burn out in a brilliant blaze than
It should be stifled by dry rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, Every atom of me in magnificent glow,
Than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, Not to exist. I shall not waste
my days In trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” ‐Jack London
“You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.” ‐Annie Dillard
Future Plans: I'm excited to continue working with Ohio Wesleyan and my community partners for a
second year. Post‐AmeriCorps, I hope to be in graduate school for public health, social work, urban
planning, or non‐profit management somewhere in the Pacific Northwest or back home in the D.C. area.
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10. KATRENA KUGLER
Defiance College
I came to Ohio Campus Compact VISTA because I needed a better job and I
wasn’t finished serving others. By the end of this year of service, I realize I’ll
probably be serving others throughout my entire life. Service is an important
aspect of my personal concept of what it means to live fully. I have really
enjoyed serving with Ohio Campus Compact for a number of reasons. I am
meant to be part of the educational environment into which OCC places VISTAs; enabling campus‐
community connections has been the most rewarding aspect of my work, along with offering our armed
forces veterans tangible proof of how much the Defiance community really appreciates their sacrifices. I
have really had a chance to explore “poverty” in Ohio, visit different communities I wouldn’t have
otherwise traveled to through retreats, learn to communicate more professionally, and save for my future
plans thanks to the OCC contract with colleges to cover room and board. I’ve had some real challenges
this year, both personally and professionally, and the positive feedback I’ve received from those who
have worked through it all with me tells me that the experiences have both strengthened me and I’ve
handled them very well, so I’m pleased with that. I have grown so much from living by myself, figuring
out how I do life, savoring both my solitude and the new friends I’ve made in Defiance. Thank you, Lesha,
Dick, Susan, the OCC team, Erica, and Nichelle for your support, guidance, enthusiasm, and a good year of
service!
Favorite Quote: “Don't thank me (for my service). It was my duty.” ‐Veteran Attendee of Defiance's
"Stand Down"
“I say to my heart once again: little heart, come from behind me, and go away before me. Sail me gently
now, as far as you can. For I am a sea of stars that I am trying to cross.” ‐Author Unknown
Future Plans: Next year I will be pursuing Master’s degree studies in the history of art and visual culture
at the University of Oregon, focusing on Spanish Renaissance and Baroque painting, sculpture, and
architecture. Immediately following my Master’s degree, I plan to pursue my doctorate, and my career
goals include teaching art history at the university level, curating in a museum of fine art, independent
research, publishing scholarly work, and participating in community service, both directly and indirectly
through hands‐on volunteer projects and through perhaps supervising and guiding future VISTA
Volunteers.
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11. KRISTEN KUZMICK
Ohio State University
As an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA at The Ohio State
University, it has been my pleasure to serve the Columbus community by
providing college access programs to students and connecting parents to
resources so that their children may realize their college‐going dreams.
President Obama said in his State of the Union address that, "In the 21st
century, one of the best anti‐poverty programs is a world‐class education." I believe that access to
education is a direct route out of poverty for families in the Columbus community and I have been
dedicated to this issue during my year of service ‐ helping inspire current college students to serve as
College Access Ambassadors and providing resources to parents and their children about the college
preparation process. Through this experience, I have discovered my passion for college access and my
longing to serve low‐income and first generation students both at the secondary and higher education
level. Listening to an eighth grader talk about his dream of going to college and becoming a pilot, making
a college savings piggy bank with a second grade student, helping Columbus City School parents open
529 college savings accounts, teaching college students about the inequities in education and
empowering them to do something about it, and developing a system of support for low‐income and first
generation students at OSU ‐ all of these moments have helped define my year of service. My hope is for
my work to continue long after I have left; for OSU to continue serving underserved students and
teaching families about the steps necessary to prepare for higher education so that students will attain
their college‐going dreams.
Favorite Quote: “It is time not just for compassionate words, but compassionate actions.” ‐Marian Wright
Edelman
Future Plans: I am working as the College Access Coordinator at Oberlin College. In five years, I hope to
be on my way to my Ph.D. and working in the world of college access and/or higher ed.
FRAN LARKIN
University of Cincinnati
I served my first term in AmeriCorps directly after graduating from The Ohio
State University as a City Year Corps Member. That experience changed the
course of my life, and ignited my passion to afford other college‐aged
students an opportunity to experience life‐changing service. Being an Ohio
Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA is a perfect way to inspire others to
service at a critical, defining stage of life. My goal is to make service an everyday part of a young person's
adult life, educate true citizens, and send highly skilled professionals into the community‐‐wherever their
career might take them‐‐with an informed perspective on the dynamics of the cycle of poverty, and a
passion for doing their part to end it.
Favorite Quote: "Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." ‐ Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Future Plans: After serving as an Ohio Campus Compact VISTA at the University of Cincinnati Center for
Community Engagement, I've earned the opportunity to continue to support the great work of students
and the University as a full time Program Coordinator.
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12. JOE LEHNERT
Lorain County Community College
Serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA over the past year has helped reaffirm my
desire to return to graduate school in order to fulfill my
professional/academic ambitions. Engaging in social justice related service
work in a professional setting has been beneficial for me personally, as it
has allowed to me to return to my “roots” so to speak. I did a variety of
social justice related activities as an undergraduate at Wilmington College, so serving as an
AmeriCorps*VISTA has made me realize once again how important it is to me. Additionally, I feel I am
better able to face the challenges of graduate school, as serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA has allowed me
to grow as a person and gain some perspective on the world around me. When I started my VISTA year, I
felt my knowledge on workforce/economic development was lacking. Through my year of service I have
learned so much. The complexity of workforce/economic development is far too great to detail in this
space, but suffice it to say, it goes far beyond the term “job creation” we hear so much in public discourse.
My greatest challenge was to help breed a broader understanding of workforce/economic development,
and how it can be addressed at all levels. This could mean bringing more partners into the discussion,
such as local libraries, to help solve this problem, or the need to address educational inequalities as to
better prepare individuals for these jobs that are being created. The stress placed upon families that
experience unemployment, and the strain on social services often goes unnoticed as well (which is why a
service like the Ohio Benefit Bank is so needed). I think a more holistic approach/understanding of
workforce/economic development is needed, and I have tried to do this during my year of service.
Whenever I see the word community, I am reminded of the oft‐cited phrase “Think globally, act locally.”
By serving our Ohio communities, we are helping to put this ideal into action. The problems of the world
will not be solved overnight, but trying to improve the world around you will also help change the world
at large.
Favorite Quote:
“Identity is also about self‐understandings, not about objective truth, or how we are perceived by others.”
“Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever
has.”
Future Plans: I will be returning to graduate school to finish my Master’s in political science. In five years
I will likely be sequestered in a library somewhere working on my dissertation.
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13. BRIDGET LUDWA
University of Akron
This experience has helped me realize how I can be most relevant in my
immediate community, and larger global community ‐ working with
veterans. This year of service has really reinforced the already budding
thoughts of needing to be a part of my community, rather than simply being
a resident. I think my greatest impact was calming the territory issues I
walked into when I started; territorial issues are counterproductive to any student population! Service to
our Ohio communities is important because it reminds people that we count, our jobs here in the
community matter, our dollars staying in the community matter, the sense of community itself matters. I
will remember my VISTA year as an awakening. In this year, I experienced wonderful things in my
personal life, and realized where I fit in the universe.
Favorite Quote: “Not every GI is a Joe.” ‐ American Women Veterans
Future Plans: I will be attending the University of Akron for a Master’s in Social Work; my field
placement involves 'motivating' homeless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to use their earned education
benefits. Five years from now I hope to be working for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Licensed
Social Worker and using alternative means to help my fellow veterans heal.
PAMELA PATE
Ohio University
Being an OCC VISTA has meant freedom, structure and opportunity to be full‐
on passionate about helping people. My greatest hope for OU and Athens is
that they will continue to collaborate and build more positive "Town‐Gown"
relationships that will benefit both parties that make up the community. My
greatest impact I believe was letting people know that the University felt that
OU students learning more about community service was important and so they brought me there. There
was pushback to my VISTA role and work. OU has been in a season of transition for many years: cuts, lay‐
offs, limited resources... etc. The climate can get tense. I managed to adjust my attitude, finish strong with
my character intact. At the end of the day, we are just professional people trying to make something
happen.
Favorite Quote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and
convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” ‐Martin Luther King Jr.,
Strength to Love, 1963
Future Plans: I am the new North Carolina Campus Compact VISTA at University of North Carolina ‐
Charlotte. I start the first of August! Five years from now I hope to be A.) A licensed practicing counselor
& B.) Working to support youth in a non‐profit. :)
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14. ERICA PHILLIPS
Otterbein University
If you had told me three years ago that I would spend two years
coordinating a community garden, I would have laughed at you. The old
Erica didn’t do dirt . . . now I do dirt, bugs, heavy lifting, you name it (in small
doses still, I’m working on it). And it’s amazing! Two years ago, prior to my
Otterbein position, I began to read and learn about our food system, the politics of food, and its many
complexities and complications. Fascinated, I continued to read, talk, listen, and absorb. Encouraging
families to grow their own food and to take back their control over what enters their bodies is a key
aspect of this conversation. As an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA, I do just that – empower
families to grow their dinners. My position at Otterbein encourages, indeed requires, me to act on my
beliefs and principles surrounding food and hunger in real, tangible ways. It has changed me too, in ways
more transformative than a bit of dirt under my fingernails (though that’s a big deal, too), challenging me
to continue to ponder tough issues and delve into possible solutions. What began for me as abstract
theory and individual choices has become my VISTA work, part of a larger fabric of small changes in the
food system as a whole.
Future Plans: I will be doing a third term of service as a VISTA Leader. My five year plan is currently
under construction.
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15. JULIA PROVOZNIK
Lorain County Community College
My service as a VISTA has provided me with amazing experiences; personally
and professionally. It came at the most opportune time in my life after
undergrad where I was ready and waiting to go out into the world and start
moving mountains. I was able to start my Master’s degree during my VISTA
service and would not have learned as much as I know now if not for the perfect marriage between my
course work and VISTA work. I’d learn things in the classroom and turn around and complete them in my
VISTA work. Because I am working towards my Master’s in Nonprofit Administration & Leadership, while
taking a required course, Grant Writing, I was able to “kill two birds with one stone” and write a couple of
grants required for both class and work. It was a mutually beneficial relationship between experience
and education. I was also able to learn about my community and so many issues our society faces and
have grown further due in part to the topically themed OCC retreats (Veterans’ issues, Hunger, Rural
poverty, etc). This knowledge is invaluable to me since I lack in the basic knowledge of a wide variety of
social issue topics. In a way, it helps to make up for not receiving my undergrad in Social Work. Also of
note would be the relationships I have been able to form; particularly with community partners and
students. Everyone has specific needs and I have been able to learn the challenges both go through and
both overcome. The students have been inspirational to me. Some have broken through barriers they face
and others are struggling to break through. I have found that most of the time, all a student needs is
someone to believe in them and tell them they can achieve anything if they set their mind to it. Students
are going through so many struggles let alone the typical course load requirements. Our community is
also struggling. I’ve learned about many of these struggles due to the funding cuts looming before many,
if not all, of our community partners. I was able to attend Second Harvest’s info session speaking of what
the federal cuts could and would mean to our local community and it is a haunting reality. I was also able
to learn intimately of the struggles one of our partners was facing due to a class project I completed
analyzing their financial situation. All of these experiences have helped me to understand and develop the
case for Civic Engagement/Service Learning/Community Service or whatever you would like to call it.
Our community has so many needs and the financial resources in our community have been drained.
What better of a fit than developing our “in‐kind” resources in the form of our student population to fill in
this need gap? On the flip side, our students are struggling to get through college and find a job. What
better way to increase their engagement (retention) than involving them in meaningful service activities
where they are utilizing their specialized skills learned in the classroom, making a difference in their own
communities, and gaining real‐world experience that can be translated to their resumes and assist them
in obtaining a future job. It makes perfect sense and if executed correctly, can have a life changing effect
upon the community short‐term AND long‐term. We would be then breeding a new self‐sustaining
society that understands the needs of our communities and takes care of them. Mother Teresa said it best,
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
Favorite Quote: "Courage is fear that has said its prayers and decided to go forward anyways." ‐ Joyce
Meyers "Live simply so others may simply live." ‐ Ghandi "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself
in the service of others." ‐ Ghandi “The only real failure in life is the failure to try.” ‐George Bernard Shaw
"Success is following the pattern of life one enjoys most." ‐Al Capp "If you move though the world with
only your intellect, then you walk with only one leg. If you move though the world with only your
compassion, then you walk with one leg. But if you move through the world with both intellect and
compassion, then you have wisdom." ‐ Maha Ghosananda
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17. NICHELLE SHUCK
Kent State University
To me being an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps* VISTA Program means
being a change agent for your campus and your community. It teaches you
how to listen, see, and speak of creative solutions.
This experience has changed my living definition of being a citizen and an
advocate. It has also reinforced my passion for making change through education. I am now a strong,
confident leader who wants to ask the hard questions in hopes that if there are no answers or if I do not
agree with the answers provided that I can be a part of the solution.
My hope is that I helped to develop a movement on KSU’s campus for addressing social change and
service‐learning. That as time goes on that often KSU students, faculty, and community leaders will sit
around a table and ask themselves what they can do for their community. I have also had the honor to be
a VISTA leader for the past year and this has given me the opportunity to get to know and support some
of the best, most genuine, kind‐hearted and sincere people I have ever met. Thank you all for giving me
the opportunity because it has truly been a pleasure – Best of luck!
This type of public service is crucial for our communities because it is through education that we are able
to open minds, mend hearts, and change lives for all people and develop communities where people are
truly neighbors and public service is a way of life.
Favorite Quote:
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Future Plans: It is hard to close this chapter of my life but for now I know that this experience has
ultimately changed the person I am and the legacy I work to leave here on this earth. Next year, I will be
attending Kent State University for a Masters degree in Higher Education and Student Personnel. I will be
working as a graduate assistant at Case Western Reserve University. It is my goal to stay in touch and up‐
to‐date with social issues and the Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps program. As a soon to be
professional at a institution of higher education, it will be one of my goals to advocate and educate for
social change and the importance of community. I am unsure of where I will be in five years but I do I
know that wherever I end up I will be an advocate for social equality.
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18. JULIA SOLOW
John Carroll University
The mission of our office and at JCU is to create a "culture of service" across
campus. My greatest hope is that, in the absence of three full‐time
AmeriCorps*VISTAs next year and the addition of two full‐time staff
members, the office will begin to develop firmer roots within the institution,
allowing for that culture of service to blossom and grow so the community both within and outside of the
school can increasingly experience mutual benefits through their partnership. One of the most
challenging parts of my year was to maintain vision and long‐term goals in the face of so many
bureaucratic barriers and slow‐downs. I have learned to be extremely patient and to persevere despite
such barriers, but also to be flexible and creative when things may not have worked out. Above all, I
learned the value in maintaining a sense of idealism balanced by realism.
Future Plans: After my VISTA year, I will be travelling to Guatemala for a 9‐week Spanish language
immersion program. Upon my return to the States, I plan to live in the D.C. area where my family
currently resides and gain work experience as a community organizer. Within the next two years, I will
be returning to school for my Master’s in Social Work, most likely specializing in Community Organizing,
Planning and Development. My goal within five years is to have a position as a community organizer and
to help effect change in solidarity with immigrant communities in the U.S.
GWEN STEMBRIDGE
University of Findlay
I was able to take my unique experiences and background to change the
view of service at The University of Findlay. Because of my unique
experience working directly with two community partners and sitting on
community boards, I was able to better understand the needs of the
community and express those to students and administration at The University of Findlay and find
mutually beneficial solutions. I was able to incorporate a spirit of hospitality into programs that were
smoothly running, but missing the direct interaction and connection parts of service. I have learned so
much about successful programs as I worked with so many different non‐profits and I will be able to take
that knowledge of those successful programs to the next community where I serve. I hope that The
University of Findlay will continue to use the amazing assets they have and delve more deeply into
reflecting on the possible solutions that exist as opposed to dwelling on the issues.
Favorite Quote: "If you've come to help me you're wasting your time. But if you've come because your
liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together."‐Aboriginal Activist Sister
Future Plans: I'm not sure yet. I will definitely use my passions and skills to make a difference in
whatever way I can. I also might join the circus.
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19. JESSICA STEWART
Notre Dame College
My greatest impact was bringing the Students in Service program to the
campus. I think it's going to do a lot of good and help many organizations
grow. That was the biggest impact for me because I brought it to Notre
Dame. The biggest impact from Notre Dame was the Welcome Weekend
Food Collection. We collected almost 5,000 lbs of food! All of the food was donated to the Heights
Emergency Food Center. The event was a huge success.
Future Plans: Get a job within the communication/PR/marketing field
NANCY SURELLA
Mercy College
I have been so proud to be an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA! Over
the last two years my fellow VISTAs have blown me away with their
knowledge, compassion, commitment and innovative service to their
communities. It's been a privilege to serve with them. Moving to Toledo, a town
where I knew no one, was a bit scary initially. I've come to love the city and it's people. Toledo has a
thriving arts community, and many other 'little known' gems, so I plan to stay here after my term of
service with AmeriCorps ends. Service to others is a Mercy Core Value and I hope that the College will
create a center for social justice after I leave here. I also hope that the programs that I've created carry on
after I'm gone. I believe my greatest impact on Toledo has been through my work with small businesses,
and the economic development that it has created. Helping someone realize their lifelong dream of
owning their own business, and through that passion, support their family, has been immensely fulfilling.
Because this work is attached to my volunteerism with SCORE, and is not tied to the College, I will
continue to embrace the challenges and rewards that this service has afforded me. The biggest challenge
that I experienced was also the biggest lesson that I learned during my tenure as a VISTA. While I've been
involved as a volunteer my whole life, I hadn't experienced collaboration with paid employees of non
profits as much as I have over the last two years. The one thing that I learned is that people, who are paid
to work, work much more slowly than people who volunteer.
Favorite Quote: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss
it.” ― Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off"
Future Plans: Ideally I'd like to pick up a not too hard job working for a nonprofit in Toledo, which has
become my home. I have however, just picked up a freelance advertising job with a Credit Union here in
Toledo. Yesterday I ran into the Executive Director of another nonprofit, and he wants to meet to discuss
my handling some marketing duties for his organization, on a freelance basis. So who knows where life
takes us....if this keeps going, I may just hang out a shingle and go into business again!!
KATHRYN TERRELL
John Carroll University
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20. ZAIA THOMBRE
Marietta College
My OCC AmeriCorps *VISTA year gave me more insight into the nonprofit
world, than any book or other experience could. I was able to build a
foundation of knowledge that will keep me engaged for the rest of my life.
Not only will I stay involved in the nonprofit sector, but the Mid‐Ohio Valley
will always have a very special place in my heart. I am so proud to know that
I have started programs that are sustainable and that I have helped to foster connections that will benefit
the community in a major way. It also meant a lot to know that there are passionate, young, motivated
leaders out there who are working to make our communities a better place. The VISTAs brought so much
to the table this year and it was amazing to see how much all of us accomplished. Reflecting on some of
the friends I formed makes me realize that we are not alone in this world and people are beside you
fighting the good fight. I hope that I am remembered as the VISTA who built a solid foundation for
nonprofit collaboration and capacity building. I hope that people remember me as a positive influence
who truly cared about the people and their work.
Favorite Quote: Amanda Dever is the love of my life.
Future Plans: Teach for America in the Mississippi Delta teaching math. Not sure what grade yet. 5 years
later? I'll be at a VISTA reunion.
JESSICA TOGLIA
Miami University Hamilton
My time as an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA has been both
rewarding and challenging. Volunteerism continues to grow at Miami
University Hamilton and I am happy to be a part of the success. One of my
greatest impacts as well as something that changed me was the STAYcation
program. This was a transformative experience for the 8 students who stayed
in Butler County and dedicated their spring break to service. It was powerful for me as a facilitator to
bring the joy of service and connect students to our local community. This is important because it
strengthens the ties between the community and the campus to come together to solve the most pressing
issues of poverty and inequality. I hope to be just as successful and even more in my second year!
Favorite Quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ‐Margaret Mead
Future Plans: I am doing a second year of OCC AmeriCorps*VISTA at Miami University Hamilton. Also, as
of right now, I plan to go back to school in the next five years.
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21. NICHOLAS WEBER
Defiance College
My time as a VISTA has been one of constant revelation; just when I think I
have a problem figured out, I realize I have merely scratched its surface. I
chose to serve as a VISTA because I knew it would push me to grow, both
personally and professionally. I had no idea though how intense the work of
addressing community need could be. There is never a nice, neat, end point
that you reach to where a problem is truly solved. Rather, these challenges were made far more
complicated when I realized we are dealing with real people with real problems, and that these are no
longer the hypothetical situations I used to discuss in undergrad classes. Some of my greatest program
successes were the ones I thought would never work, while some of my worst were projects I thought
could never fail. From each experience though, I came away a little stronger, more prepared for the next
undertaking. I realize that if the problems we faced were simple, they would have already been solved
long ago. The problems we deal with are complicated, and so too are their solutions.
Favorite Quote: "I do not suppose I shall be remembered for anything. But I don't think about my work in
those terms. It is just as vulgar to work for the sake of posterity as to work for the sake of money." ‐Orson
Welles
Future Plans: I will remain with OCC for a 3rd year, serving as a VISTA Leader for this final year. I then
plan to attend graduate school for International Law.
GILLIAN WYNN
Wright State University
I have learned more about my community in the past two years as a VISTA,
than I have my entire life. I have a better understanding of what an active
citizen should be doing and why they choose to be active. My hope is that
people will continue to be active citizens and to teach others what an active
citizen does. It is so important to inform. Information is power!
Favorite Quote:
“What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?" ‐Unknown
"Not all those who wonder are lost." ‐J.R.R. Tolkien
Future Plans: I will get a job in the community next year and finish my application for seminary to enter
into youth ministry.
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22. EMILY YURCICH
Hiram College
It was a really great experience being an OCC AmeriCorps*VISTA. Being a
VISTA means that I have the opportunity to make positive changes on the
Hiram College campus and build structure to make those changes sustainable
in the future. Over the past year I have developed a deeper understanding of
community service and how small changes can really make a big difference. I hope to see Hiram College
continue to advance in its effort to support students and community service work surrounding local
foods and hunger awareness. I hope to see more local foods and food security issues addressed on
campus and in the community. It will be great to see the programs that I worked on this past year
continue to evolve. My greatest impact this year is the knowledge that I gained and the experience of
working with local food issues in the community and seeing programs like Hiram Farm and Hiram House
Camp growing and becoming resilient. I enjoyed learning from the other VISTAs’ experiences at their host
campuses as well. Being able to share information through a wide network of people is valuable. Being an
OCC VISTA at Hiram College has provided me with great experiences and opportunities to learn about
food issues in a rural community and to see programs I was involved with begin to impact the
community.
Favorite Quote: “New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to
work with, the richer we become.” ‐Kurt Vonnegut
Future Plans: Next year I plan to travel more, continue to work with local food issues in the community.
2010‐2011 Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Program
VISTAs always remember to…
be the change you wish to see in the world
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23.
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24. A Year of Service
Reflections from
2010‐2011 Ohio Campus Compact
AmeriCorps*VISTAs
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