A new student group on campus is working to create collaboration and opportunities for skill development for students interested in public service. Called “The Project,” this group focuses on collaboration between students in Grand Valley State University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program and their peers in the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration to increase their marketability.

The Project is an academic-based collaborative that aims to engage all students committed to public service. The group focuses on four main objectives: learning, management, service and sustainability. “The Project began as a means for students in grant writing to send their fellow classmates to conferences and student learning experiences during the Winter 2009 term,” said GVSU professor Diane Kimoto.

Kimoto said almost 50 percent of Michigan’s undergraduates leave the state for career and professional advancement. To better enhance the skills of GVSU students and to allow students to showcase the skills they have acquired, they decided they needed The Project.

Along with a group of students and now-president of the group, GVSU senior Cory Jackson, Kimoto saw the need of this group and formed it in its current form during the end of winter semester 2011. The learning projects helps to provide students with access to leadership and professional development opportunities, which includes attending conferences and submitting
work for publications, while the service projects aim to bring out cultural awareness, communication skills and an understanding or learning outside of a classroom environment.

Students this year will travel to Joplin, Mo., to help provide service to those affected by the tornado earlier this year.
“My greatest passion is doing service work, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to do service with fellow students in the College of Community and Public Service,” said Jenna Carrigan, vice president of service learning. The sustainability projects allow students to plan and implement a system of events such as golf outings and restaurant nights.
The management projects promote insight into navigating the administration of public, non-profit, and health systems.

Students will travel to Washington, D.C., and meet politicians that are GVSU alumni to create strong networks. This will promote job shadowing and advocacy opportunities. Although the group is aimed toward students in the College of Community and Public Service who participate in the entire program, all students are welcome to become involved with The Project’s monthly service days.

Jackson said he believes The Project offers something more than many of the other GVSU student organizations. “Student organizations do a great job of motivating students around a cause, but they often lack the outcome of marketable skills needed to further academic and professional careers,” he said. Kimoto said that it is the role of students to learn their voices whereas the role of faculty is to be their mentor and supporters.

“I believe in our students,” Kimoto said. “Our students work two jobs, have student loans, and still find time to practice what they preach – service. I am their constant supporter and cheerleader. All we ask is that you hear the message of The Project.”

To learn more about The Project, email [email protected].

[email protected]