SNR-GSA’s McPhee Efforts Win Award

Graduate students from the School of Natural Resources teaching McPhee Elementary students about levers are, from left, John Quinn, Melissa Melvin, Matt Giovanni, and Luis Ramirez (seated).

Congratulations to the School of Natural Resources Graduate Student Association, which won the Student Organization Spirit of Service Award for 2008, presented by Student Involvement Service Learning.

The award goes to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Recognized Student Organization that has connected with Lincoln’s community to provide services to agencies in need. This group has excelled in the area of volunteerism and has grown as a group and as individuals because of their work. Through this, the group has encouraged other RSO’s and students to engage in service and civic participation. This group offered specialized and trained students in a specific discipline to fit the specific needs of a community partner.

The SNR-GSA developed a science enhancement program that focuses on natural resources education for K-5th graders. This program is in its third year at McPhee Elementary School and recently expanded to Everett Elementary. In that time the graduate students of SNR-GSA have given upwards of 500 hours per semester to community outreach at McPhee and Everett schools.  

Also honored in connection with the awards and the SNR-GSA efforts were John Quinn, who was a finalist for Student Organization Officer of the Year, and Jim Brandle, a finalist for Advisor of the Year.

We thank the SNR-GSA, Quinn and Brandle for the time and energy they’ve invested. It reflects well on SNR and has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of children who need some extra help.