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February 28, 2007 610-861-5453

Youth Take the Lead

Young people from across the country who serve on the State Farm Youth Advisory Board have chosen Northampton Community College (NCC) to receive a $61,253 grant to promote service learning. NCC was one of only 44 organizations across the United States and Canada - and the only college in Pennsylvania - selected to participate in the program. In all, the Youth Board reviewed more than 360 proposals.

The grant will enable students from Northampton Community College to develop leadership skills as they work with students from Easton Area High School and local officials to improve community preparedness for the kinds of flooding that have wreaked havoc along the Delaware River three times since September of 2004.

At a news conference announcing the award, Northampton Community College’s president, Dr. Arthur Scott talked about the College’s commitment to encouraging students to be aware of the needs of the community and to be part of the solution. He praised State Farm for their effort to do this on a national level.

Explaining that “service learning is a teaching method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum,” State Farm agent John Little said that State Farm supports service learning because “it is more than merely community service. It is a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility.”

Katie Michael, a member of NCC’s leadership class, thanked State Farm for the learning opportunity that the grant will provide for students, and for being the “good neighbor” described in its ad campaign.

According to NCC’s service learning administrator, Deb Bohr, students will now take the lead in determining how to proceed, consistent with State Farm’s goal of empowering young people to address real issues and problems as leaders and decision-makers.

Photo Caption: Students from Northampton Community College and Easton Area High School celebrate the announcement of the grant with representatives of State Farm and with Dr. Scott, president of Northampton Community College.

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