Service
Teach the children well
Photos by Lee Ferris
Student volunteers with the Mount’s Center for Adolescent Research and Development (CARD) helped bring learning to life for Highland Falls Intermediate School students with the CONNECT After-School Program.
Running throughout the school year, CONNECT’s goal is to assist students in acquiring beneficial skill sets to learn, create, and lead in STEM and the humanities. Helping students reach their full potential in school and life, the program offers personal development through mentorship, exposure to engaging extracurricular activities, and academic support.
CARD identifies potential mentors for the after-school program, which is sponsored by the West Point Association of Graduates. Many of these mentors are currently teacher candidates at the Mount. The Mount volunteers work with children in grades 3 to 8.
The program is as helpful for the young students as it is for Mount teacher candidates, providing them with the experience they need to grow as future educators.
For Mount seniors Maria Davino and Anthony Bosco, being a part of the CONNECT program has been a rewarding experience that has helped them to better understand the balance between education and community.
“Working with the students at this school, I saw a wide variety of differences between the student’s educational and developmental milestones,” Davino explained. “This program [gives] students something to look forward to and participate in. It gives some sad kids a happy place; as teachers, that is [what we] hope for.”
Bosco added, “It taught me behavior management [and] leadership skills, and gave me the opportunity to work with experienced teachers who gave me tips and tricks for my future career path.”
Monica Merritt, associate professor of Education at the Mount, noted that the program is growing for both students and teacher candidates. With CONNECT currently in its second year, she sees the potential for incorporating internship opportunities for Mount teacher candidates into the program. CONNECT could even evolve into a year-round format.
“By participating as a CONNECT mentor, teacher candidates have the opportunity to interact with students in an alternative setting while receiving mentorship from experienced supervising teachers, providing an optimal setting for them to gain valuable and diversified experience in the field prior to student teaching,” said Merritt.
Day of service: Incoming freshmen volunteer in the community
Photos by Matt Frey ’05 MSEd ’10
Mount freshmen got an early start to serving the local community before the semester began. More than 50 students from the college’s Knight Summer Connections program volunteered at four locations.
At a Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh build site, the incoming freshmen rolled up their sleeves, put on their work gloves, and pulled dozens of weeds from the yard of a home on Johnston Street.
Students who volunteered at the Sanctuary Healing Gardens harvested produce, while discussing the importance of good community nutrition with volunteer Betty Bastions.
At the Newburgh Armory Unity Center, the students got local children excited about academics at the Armory’s ongoing Saturday morning enrichment programs.
Meanwhile, the last group of new Mount students helped to pack and organize donations at the Deacon Jack Seymour Food Pantry.
The college’s Knight Summer Connections program helps new students transition smoothly from high school to college. Participants in the fields of Nursing, Natural Sciences, and the Humanities get a head start on their academics with Mount professors and staff as their mentors.
The incoming freshmen began the program, a 3-credit course, in the weeks leading up to the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester. The course ended right before the Mount’s opening day of the semester, freeing the students up for their next academic challenges.
In addition to the day of service, the students are learning about important resources, meeting faculty and staff from all across campus, challenging themselves on a ropes course, and taking part in a service activity.
This year’s Knight Summer Connections program is being overseen by Christina Alvey, associate professor of Mathematics and chair of the division of Math & IT; Linda Kelly, associate professor of Nursing; Mark Lewin, instructor of History; and co-coordinators Rob Wakeman, associate professor of English, and Brianne Thompson, director of student advising.
Toy drive brings holiday cheer to local children
Photos by Lee Ferris
This Christmas, Santa Claus got a little help from his friends in the Hudson Valley.
The Mount community and generous friends of the college teamed up to make this holiday season a little brighter for families in need, to the tune of more than 1,000 toys.
The college’s annual toy drive has been spearheaded by Interim President Fr. Gregoire Fluet for almost a decade. It’s become one of his most cherished traditions at the Mount.
“It’s indicative of the incredible generosity of the Mount Saint Mary College family,” said Fr. Fluet. “It’s almost overwhelming how much the college community and our friends pitched in to help. That’s one of the things that’s always been a hallmark of the Mount – our dedication to service and willingness to work”
After students and staff loaded them up, the toys collected at the college were donated in-person and to Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties.
The toy drive received support from the Mount’s athletic teams, the Student Government Association, Bishop Dunn Memorial School, and more.
The program was sponsored by Campus Ministry with aid from the entire campus.
A big leap for Baby Steps pantry
Left to right: Dominican Scholars of Hope advisor Charles Zola, assistant to the President for Mission Integration, director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute, and associate professor of Philosophy; The Rev. Ernie Mossel, Pastor of Christ Lutheran church; Kim Uszacki of Staten Island, N.Y. (DSH leadership team); Jonathan Nowicki of Monroe, N.Y. (DSH leadership team); and DSH members Sean Ocasio of Monroe, N.Y.; and Roselyn Vaquero of Newburgh, N.Y.
The Dominican Scholars of Hope (DSH) recently donated $500 to the Baby Steps Baby Pantry (BSBP) at Christ Lutheran Church in Newburgh, N.Y.
Rooted in the values of the Judeo-Christian and Dominican heritage of the college, DSH is a nonacademic living and learning community for highly motivated Mount students.
Through a Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser, the DSH raised the money for the pantry, which provides infant supplies for families in need in the local area. Each month, families who are part of the program are provided with a week’s worth of diapers, wipes, wash, and cream.
This is the fifth year the Dominican Scholars have hosted fundraisers to benefit BSBP.
The Rev. Ernst Mossl, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, was grateful to accept the donations in person near the end of the Fall 2023 semester.
“As the need is always increasing, BSBP counts it as a great blessing to have these service-minded students raise much-needed funds for the ministry,” said the Rev. Mossl. “Through the years, a strong partnership has grown between the diaper ministry and DSH, one that brings hope to many families.”
The Rev. Mossl thanked Dominican Scholars of Hope advisor Charles Zola, assistant to the President for Mission Integration, director of the Mount’s Catholic and Dominican Institute, and associate professor of Philosophy, for his “faithful stewardship” of the program.
Zola, in turn, thanked the DSH for their excellent work.
“I’m so grateful for the efforts of our Dominican Scholars and the generosity of the Mount community during our doughnut sale fundraisers,” said Zola. “Their support for Newburgh’s Baby Steps Baby Pantry is one more example of how the Dominican values of service and community are a vital part of our campus culture and extend to the greater Newburgh area.”