Montana Campus Compact Places Service Volunteers

Montana Campus Compact (MTCC), a statewide higher education
organization that supports campus-based public service, has received a
grant to place 14 new Volunteers in Service to America members at campus
and community agencies throughout the state.

The Corporation for National and Community Service grant will
allow the VISTA members to serve full-time, one-year terms at Montana
Campus Compact member institutions. They will strengthen the service
infrastructure for low-income populations by coordinating volunteer efforts
and expanding the financial resources available for community service.

To meet their objectives, VISTA members will engage in grant
writing, resource mobilization, fund raising, event planning and more.

“Montana Campus Compact’s VISTA members connect higher education’s
resources with community needs,” said Josh Vanek, VISTA program manager.
“Communities benefit through increased campus volunteerism and better
access to campus resources and expertise.”

Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath presided over the swearing-in
ceremony of the new VISTA members July 24 in Helena. The new members are:

 Krista Fahlgren, who will work at the MTCC headquarters in at
The University of Montana-Missoula to support and sustain the organization
by increasing available resources and awareness across the state.

 Even Howard, who will work with the Montana State
University-Bozeman Office for Community Involvement to develop an advisory
board for the Service Learning Center and a Virtual Volunteer Center.

 Nicole Joseph-Goteiner, who will work at MTCC in Missoula to
build the Student Civic Engagement Campaign, a student leadership team that
will strengthen existing civic engagement projects on campuses across the
state.

 Rorry Kinnally, who will work with the Missoula Forum for
Children and Youth to develop and expand partnerships among
forum-affiliated organizations that strive to meet the needs of low-income
children and families.

 Jaunita Kinniburgh, who will work with MSU-Northern’s Havre
Community Service Center to compile service opportunities for students,
expand faculty knowledge of service learning and coordinate service days.

 Erin Middleton, who will strengthen and sustain the America
Reads tutoring program at Valier Public School. She also will use the
resources of her school to expand the program to include more Hi-Line
communities.

 J’Neanne Myers, who will work to strengthen and sustain the
America Reads Tutoring program at Lakeside Elementary School.

 Robin Roehrborn, who will strengthen and sustain the America
Reads program at Ronan Public School, using capital and human resources
from Salish Kootenai College in Pablo.

 Jean Rogers, who will coordinate service programs between UM’s
Helena College of Technology, Carroll College and Helena Public School
District. She will access community needs, recruit volunteers and finds
ways to offer more community-service work-study awards.

 Sarah Schwanfelder, who will work with UM-Western’s Service
Learning Center in Dillon to expand the number of student volunteers and
raise community awareness of the center. She also will recruit board
members and write grants.

 Erin Thompson, who will work with UM-Missoula’s HomeWORD to
further affordable housing development and home-ownership education.
Thompson will conduct a community assessment, implement marketing and
outreach strategies, evaluate programs, do basic fund raising, and maintain
and enhance Web sites.

 Sara Vitaska, who will work with the Missoula City-County Health
Department to increase community participation and involvement in health
and nutrition programs.

 Shannon Wheeler, who will work with the Missoula Habitat for
Humanity program, especially the campus-based Habitat program and community
partners.

 Joyce Workman, who will expand service learning in Kalispell and
among Flathead Valley Community College faculty members. She will work
closely with a service-learning coordinator to develop relationships with
community organizations and address the needs of people living in poverty.

Contact: Dean McGovern, executive director, Montana Campus Compact, (406)
243-5177.