Any good educator will tell you that service learning is an effective way to connect students to learning goals while engaging them in their surrounding community. And nearly all students who have participated in service learning will tell you that it is a meaningful experience that truly makes an impact.
But few can boast a service learning experience so robust that it has lasted 21 years, involved a wide cast of volunteers, and inspired students so deeply that they even return as graduates to participate.
Yet McKinley High School’s Area Learning Center can do just that.
Retired ISD 742 Language Arts teacher Kathy Lyerly and Social Studies teacher Mike Myers-Schleif have worked with students at the St. Cloud Veterans Administration (VA) hospital for 21 and 18 years respectively. They currently assist the students with veterans in the Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program at least once a month, decorating for major holidays, joining in crafts and bingo games, and sharing a noon meal.
Most of the veterans are World War II or Korean vets, Lyerly says, and the students develop relationships with them over the course of the school year and over time.
Zach Johnson is a 2013 graduate currently enrolled at the St. Cloud Community and Technical College. He is in his fourth year of volunteering at the VA with McKinley.
He admits that at first he was skeptical of the service learning project because he doesn’t consider himself outgoing. However, Lyerly persuaded him to make that first visit, and that’s all it took to break the ice.
“I like talking to the guys,” Johnson says, “and getting to know them, keep them company.”
He recalls that he has learned a lot over the years from the veterans through their stories.
“On interview days, I learned just to let them talk. Don’t interrupt,” he reflects.
McKinley students need to demonstrate responsible behavior and regular attendance to become a part of the service learning project. Lyerly notes that most of the students begin as 10th graders and continue every year until they graduate.
“They learn to maintain relationships,” she says. A valuable life lesson, indeed.
Richard Reignier is an 83-year-old Korean veteran and volunteer in the program, and he knows nearly all the students by name.
“These are the greatest kids you will ever want to meet,” he declares.
His participation has extended over at least ten years, and he looks forward to it every time.
Kyle is a first-year student in the program, and greatly appreciates his relationship with Richard.
“I didn’t see myself doing this,” he admits, “but ALC gave me the opportunity. It’s fun and I see that it makes their day.”
Recreational therapist Leah Egan has worked with the ADHC program for two years and she reflects that this service project is unique.
“Most of the time,” she says, “volunteers are random. It’s kind of one time only. But these students form bonds.”
“It’s an amazing program,” Egan concludes. “Heartwarming. And the veterans love interacting with students of this age.” (16-20)
Betty Weisbrich is also a retired 742 employee who volunteers with McKinley service learning students at the VA. She sees her efforts as a gesture of appreciation for what the program provided her own father after her mother died in 2011 and he became depressed.
“The program did so much for him,” she reflects. “He was so lonely after Mom died. He needed someone to talk to. He really liked the kids.”
Unlike many of her classmates, Izzy just recently began participating in service learning. But as she looks around the room, she says she can see herself volunteering all through high school.
“I like the smiles,” she says.
A service learning project that engages high school students, active teachers, retired professionals, veterans and health care professionals over more than two decades?
Priceless.