Overview
Jill Swiencicki (English), Academic Program Director
Elizabeth Rizzolo, Assistant Director, Institute for Civic and Community Engagement
In 1996, St. John Fisher College introduced the Service Scholars Program, created to provide meaningful service in the Rochester community in partnership with community based, non-profit organizations. Fisher works closely with community partners with the understanding that no single organization or individual can solve complex social problems alone, but through collaboration, collective impact can be realized.
Each year, service scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who exhibit outstanding community service through activities in their schools, places of worship, and community agencies. A highly competitive program, students selected come to campus with a passion for service, develop as community leaders across their four years while serving as role models to their peers, and cultivate a practice of impactful civic engagement through unique programming and roles in the Rochester community.
Site placements are developed for scholars by support staff at Fisher's Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. All experiences are designed to provide academic enrichment and preparation for career and leadership, as students give back to the Rochester community and continue the great tradition of service with and for a stronger Rochester.
In addition to the experiential learning that takes place through service, each scholar is supported academically through leadership development coursework. Additional training is provided through community engagement workshops, to effectively prepare scholars to be thoughtful, empathetic, impactful, and culturally responsive in their community engagement activities while also building the critical thinking skills necessary to take full advantage of this unique opportunity.