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Drinko Center Names New PACC-VISTA

Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011

Westminster College's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning named recent Westminster graduate Katie Gray as its newest Pennsylvania Campus Compact-Volunteer in Service to America (PACC-VISTA).

The staff position, focused on developing and supporting community service, service-learning, and civic engagement programs, is funded by a three-year grant from PACC.  This marks the fourth time Westminster has received the award.

"A large part of Katie's role will be partnering with Laurel High School, where she will assist in coordinating a mentoring program using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and 21st-century skills technology," said Jeffrey Ledebur, Drinko Center community service coordinator and former PACC-VISTA.

"I am looking forward to encouraging campus-wide service and creating opportunities for students to engage in the community," Gray said.

Gray has been active in many campus service projects and organizations.  She spent six weeks in South Korea this summer as part of the New Wilmington Mission Conference Summer Service Team.

Gray, a 2011 graduate in elementary education, is a daughter of Charles and Roberta Gray of Cheswick and a graduate of Deer Lakes High School.

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education.  Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the Drinko Center and its programs.

Westminster has been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll every year since the program was launched in 2006.  Nearly 70% of Westminster students volunteered last year and logged over 26,000 hours of community service.

PACC is a membership of college presidents from across the commonwealth.  PACC schools serve as vital agents and architects that enrich communities' quality of life and a commitment to deepening learning through civic engagement for the development of socially responsible citizens.

VISTA, founded in 1965, is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty.  VISTA joined AmeriCorps in 1993 and is now the national leader in the battle to reduce and eliminate poverty in America.

Contact Ledebur at (724) 946-6097 or email ledebujt@westminster.edu for additional information.