SMARTS program helps keep YSU on honor roll

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

For the second consecutive year, Youngstown State University has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.

This year, YSU was recognized for the SMARTS (Students Motivated by the Arts) program and its impact on the local community. YSU is among only four public universities in Ohio to be selected to the honor roll.

“Congratulations to these schools and their students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick A. Corvington, chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The honor roll, launched in 2006, annually recognizes institutions of higher education for their commitment to and achievement in community service. CNCS oversees the honor roll in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education.

“The selection of SMARTS for this honor is clearly indicative of how the program impacts the local community and employs faculty, student and community partnerships to engage local K-12 students in arts programming,” said Ron Shaklee, YSU director of University Scholars and Honors Programs and professor of geography.

“SMARTS connects YSU to the community and offers quality arts education programs to K-12 students from throughout the community,” said Becky Keck, SMARTS director.

“This connection gives unlimited opportunities to YSU students, faculty and staff for teaching and learning. The result of this win-win model makes SMARTS one of YSU’s premier points for community engagement.”

SMARTS, created in 1997, is an arts education project of the YSU College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Beeghly College of Education and the many vital arts organizations in the region. It is one of YSU’s premier programs for diversity and community engagement. The program gives students in grades kindergarten to grade 12 free classes in visual arts, music, dance, theater and creative writing and provides early learning opportunities in a living/learning laboratory for YSU students. SMARTS’ after-school, Saturday and summer programming reaches thousands of students and community members each year.

For more information, visit www.fpa.ysu/smarts.

During the 2009-10 reporting period, arts programming accounted for 2,431 interactions by 191 K-12 students with SMARTS staff and volunteers. Volunteers included 19 YSU students, two YSU faculty members, 11 YSU alumni and five community artists. SMARTS also partners with Youngstown Boys and Girls Clubs and the Salvation Army to serve their youth constituencies.