Congratulations to the 2020 Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Award Winners!
The Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Awards recognize annually one community partner, one faculty member, and one graduating senior for their outstanding commitment to the ideals of service-learning. We are pleased to recognize Yan Liu, a Lecturer of Chinese in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Axel Herrera Ramos (Duke ‘20), a double major in Economics and Sociology, and Syretta Hill, Executive Director of StepUp Durham, for their most excellent community collaborations. Learn more about the 2020 award recipients below:
Faculty Recipient: Yan Liu
“These collaborations are beneficial to both Duke students and my students. On the one hand, Duke students have applied what they have learned to teach younger learners. On the other hand, my students at Durham Academy have been able to communicate with college students and use the Chinese language to learn about interesting topics beyond the textbook and my classes. My students have been really impressed and inspired by the knowledge and worldview of Duke students. We cannot ask for a more supportive and energetic community.”
-Nominator Bonnie Wang, Chinese Language teacher at Durham Academy
Student Recipient: Axel Herrera Ramos
“Axel cares deeply about community-engaged work and his service-learning peers. His contributions to the vitality and direction of our Service-Learning Assistant (SLA) program for four consecutive academic semesters demonstrate the power of student leadership. His continual efforts to strengthen faculty and student relationships, both within and beyond the classroom, exemplify Betsy Alden’s vision of building more humane relationships through tangible action.”
— Nominator Kimmie Garner, Assistant Director of Duke Service-Learning
Community Partner Recipient: Syretta Hill
“Syretta Hill is an eager, engaged, and thoughtful collaborator and a wonderful mentor to my students. She synergistically balanced the needs of her organization with the students’ skills and learning objectives. Her ability to connect with people and connect them to one another reinforced the importance of reciprocity, partnership building, and fostering community – all skills that will prove vital to them in college and beyond.”
- Nominator Lalita Kaligotla, Associate Director of Duke Sanford’s Hart Leadership Program (HLP)