2016 recipients Community Learning Lab with nominators and Counseling Center staff. From lef, Michela Lennon, intern at Illinois Hillel; Erez Cohen, Executive Director at Cohen Center for Jewish Life; Dana Cohen, Illinois Research Park; Sherrie Faulkner, Illinois School of Social Work and Community Learning Lab (back); Alejandra Ochoa, Community Learning Lab; Katie Shumway, Community Learning Lab; and Carla McCowan, Counseling Center Director.
The Counseling Center recently awarded the 2016 Robert P. Larsen Human Development Award to Farah Chalisa, member of the Student Senate, and the Community Learning Lab.
During her time on the University of Illinois Student Senate, Chalisa has been an advocate for mental health for students across campus. She headed up a mental health awareness week in the fall, and has worked to make Kognito At-Risk mandatory for students. Kognito At-Risk is an online training that helps students identify behaviors that may signal another student is in distress and may need to be put in contact with campus resources to help.
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Community Learning Lab was formed to create and support relationships between the community and the classrooms at the University of Illinois School of Social Work in a partnership that is mutually beneficial in the areas of growth, education, and service. To date, Community Learning Lab has facilitated over 19,000 hours of community service provided by students, more than 1,000 projects completed, and more than 240 projects completed. This engagement initiative was originally supported by a grant from the University of Illinois Office of Public Engagement.
The Robert P. Larsen Human Development award was estabished in 1992 and is named after a staff member who served the the Counseling Center for 50 years. The award honors individuals and groups that make significant contributions to the campus consistent with the general mission of the Counseling Center. It has been presented annually to any person or group who enhances student development and maximizes student capabilities to make effective and satisfying life choices.
Congratulations to this year's winners, and thank you for the excellent work you do!