KEENE, N.H., 4/24/07 - Campus Compact of New Hampshire recognized Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Monadnock Region, their KSC student volunteers, and KSC Assistant Professor Karrie Kalich at the annual President's Awards luncheon on April 17.

The Campus Compact Community Partner Award was presented to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Monadnock Region. This recognition is presented to an organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with Keene State College. Executive Director Peg Monahan and Bob Charron, president of the board, accepted the award. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Monadnock Region serves more than 400 children annually throughout southwestern New Hampshire.

The President's Leadership Award was presented to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Club on the Keene State campus for outstanding contributions of community service. The club is made up KSC students enrolled as mentors in the Monadnock Region and others who support the efforts of the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. Last fall, more than 80 students volunteered to become Big Brothers or Big Sisters, triggering the need for a campus-wide club to support their mentoring interests. Americorps*VISTA volunteer and club president/founder Heena Patel, and the executive committee of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Club (Caitlin Baum, Amanda Ruest, Jesse Ferraira, and Elizabeth Vassalo) accepted the award.

Dr. Karrie Kalich, assistant professor of health science, received the President's Good Steward Award for her active involvement in community activities and her leadership among the faculty in promoting service learning. Kalich developed a 30-week preschool curriculum called The Early Sprouts: Gardening and Nutrition Experiences for the Young Child (Early Sprouts). Working with KSC students and faculty from the KSC nutrition, education, math, sociology, and psychology departments and the Head Start Centers run by Southwest Community Services, she implemented a program that addresses the significant community health problem of childhood obesity. The program engages preschool children and their families in a unique healthy-lifestyle learning program centered around a working vegetable garden.

Campus Compact for New Hampshire is a statewide consortium of college and university presidents and private sector partners who are united in their commitment to the civic purposes of higher education. The mission of Campus Compact for New Hampshire is to be a catalyst to integrate community service and civic responsibility through out the academic and student life goals of its member institutions.

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