For Tia Rogers, a service-learning experience in health science was the boost she needed to make the next step in her education.

Rogers, a research assistant and project co-ordinator for a Health Science course funded by a Service-Learning Student Assistant Grant last winter, says working alongside Brock Assistant Professor Dr. Paula Gardner allowed her to refine her research skills and develop new and important community networks.

“These interactions were an opportunity to use my communication skills while building collaborative partnerships,” Rogers says. “I truly understand the value of service learning. This project really sparked my interest in aging and working with older adults and gave me the confidence to apply to graduate school, which I started in September.”

The deadline to apply for a pair of Brock service-learning grants, including the one that helped Rogers last winter, is coming up Friday, Dec. 4.

There are two types of grants available for consideration:

Service-Learning Course Development Grant: This provides faculty members a one-time grant of up to $3,000 to support incorporating service-learning pedagogy into a new course or as a new component of an existing course.

Service-Learning Student Assistant Grant (funded through the Match of Minds program): These grants provide funding for an undergraduate or graduate student for up to 10 hours per week for one term to assist with some of the unique aspects of service-learning. The student role must focus on supporting a service-learning initiative while developing career related employability skills.

Service-learning combines academic study, community involvement and critical reflection. Students enrolled in a service-learning course gain real-world, hands-on experience.

Jocelyn Stuckless, a Student Assistant working with Dr. Erin Sharpe says her experience was something she could leverage in a job interview.

“The opportunity provided me with unique examples to elaborate on in a job interview such as my leadership and supervisory skills, ability to work with diverse groups of people, strategies for encouraging the best outcomes out of a team and understanding how to mitigate conflicts when working with others,” Stuckless says.

She has also landed an internship in the Community Development Unit with the City of Mississauga, saying it was “an opportunity that might not have been possible without the student assistant position.”

“By connecting theoretical knowledge to practical experience, not only am I better prepared for the position I currently hold, but I also feel prepared and ready to face the challenges and opportunities that lie outside of Brock University.”

Applications for bot grants are due by noon Friday, Dec. 4. More information and the applications can be found on the Brock service learning website.