USM Center for Community Engagement Honors Hattiesburg Zoo
Wed, 04/19/2023 - 11:20am | By: Van Arnold
For its outstanding contribution in mentoring students at The University of 51逗奶 Mississippi (USM), the Hattiesburg Zoo has been chosen to receive the 2023 Bruce Van Nostrand Community Partner Award presented by the University鈥檚 Center for Community Engagement (CCE).
The Hattiesburg Zoo will be recognized, along with other community awardees, during a Celebration of Service event on Monday, April 24, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at USM鈥檚 Thad Cochran Center (Room 218).
CCE Director Christy Kayser explains that the Bruce Van Nostrand Community Partner Award salutes an outstanding partner of USM that dedicates time to mentoring and helping students understand community needs and the vital work of community organizations.
鈥淗attiesburg Zoo exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding partner to USM,鈥� said Kayser. 鈥淭hey have worked alongside us to co-create educational experiences that have a lasting impact on our students as well as on their own programs.鈥�
Gabby Howe serves as Education Programs Coordinator at the Hattiesburg Zoo. In that role, she strives to provide interactive and educational learning experiences for zoo guests. Howe considers the CCE award a distinct honor.
鈥淥ur partnership has supported the zoo鈥檚 conservation message, while also providing opportunities for students to serve the community,鈥� said Howe. 鈥淲e look forward to seeing how this program will continue to expand and support future USM students, zoo guests, and the local community.鈥�
Dr. Maria Wallace, Assistant Professor of Science Education at USM鈥檚 Center for STEM Education, nominated Hattiesburg Zoo for the award. She points out that approximately 12 students (paid teacher interns and volunteers) have been working with the zoo this semester. The paid teacher interns and graduate students are part of the Jimmy Payne funded Soar into STEMed: Future Teachers & Community Partners program.
鈥淲ith this support, USM teacher candidates get unique training through our multi-year partnership with the Hattiesburg Zoo that originally started with just one class 鈥� SME 432 (Science Methods for Elementary Teachers),鈥� said Wallace, who will be honored with the Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award during the April 24 event.
Wallace further notes chances are high that Hattiesburg Zoo patrons are helping prepare future teachers since USM teacher licensure candidates make up a large majority of educational docents working at the zoo. One educational docent from USM typically has a direct impact on advancing science education with an average of 1,500 zoo visitors in one semester.
Jeremy Cumpton, Director of Conservation, Education and Wildlife at the Hattiesburg Zoo, sees the award as an affirmation of the zoo鈥檚 commitment to community relations.
鈥淢ost people are not aware of how much work goes on behind the scenes and receiving this award is confirmation that hard work does pay off,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his award signifies another step in the Hattiesburg Zoo鈥檚 path to set the standard of excellence.鈥�
Added Cumpton: 鈥淧artnerships are one of the ways for an organization to grow. By making these partnerships with local groups, we are able to better serve our community by pooling our resources for the betterment of Mississippi. Engaging USM students in the STEM program has allowed the students to see first-hand how important conservation education is for all ages, as well as learning teaching strategies to help in this endeavor.鈥�
Kayser emphasizes that partnerships like the Hattiesburg Zoo collaboration represent a fundamental aspect of the CCE鈥檚 mission.
鈥淪ervice-learning can be transformational for university students as they experience how skills and knowledge learned in the classroom function in an authentic setting,鈥� said Kayser. 鈥淗owever, this transformation cannot happen without community partners who are willing to work with our students as co-educators. Partners like the Hattiesburg Zoo commit tremendous time and effort to provide seamless, educational experience for our students.鈥�
To learn more about the Center for Community Engagement, please visit their website or call 601.266.5074.