Annie Lock ’09 received the Northwestern Mutual Service Learning Scholarship Award for outstanding community service to adults with mental and physical illness at Oakton Manor.
Award Symposium speaker David McKinney, Vice President of Programs at Public Allies, program linking diverse young Americans who want to make a difference with nonprofit organizations in their communities, told students:
“One of the great virtues of service is the possibility of seeing the world differentlyâ€¦. This is one of the places where art holds huge potential – it can help us to see the world through a different lens. We can elicit the voices of unheard people differently; we can capture the positive aspects of our communities when we so often only hear the negative.”
“Without the Service Learning course and its volunteer component,” said Lock, “I probably would not have ever talked to the people that I worked with. I would never have had the experiences I had, never built the memories I have, never overcome my fears and misperceptions. I would never have known the feeling of how amazing it is to really make a difference in their lives.”
In addition to serving well above the required hours, Lock’s leadership and service have included working through Artists Working in Education (AWE) to start an afterschool art program at Milwaukee’s Clark Street School and serving as arts program assistant at the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. The Integrated Studio Arts major led many student organizations and served as a teaching assistant in MIAD’s Pre-College program. She plans to pursue an education in Art Therapy.
MIAD’s unique Service Learning Course requirement deepens students’ personal connection to the community and provides them with leadership skills for addressing society’s challenges. It integrates hands-on service with coursework, discussion and activities. Since its inception, students have contributed to the region more than 40,000 hours and a million dollars in volunteer support.