BSOS Students Take Top Prizes in Do Good Challenge
The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences congratulates all of its students who participated in UMD's Do Good Challenge.
The Miles for Smiles team, which included BSOS sudents, took 1st prize, winning $5,000 to build wellness relationships with children in El Paraiso, Honduras. They also won the Audience Choice award, earning an additional $2,500.
Read the Diamondback article about the team's efforts and success.
The PSYC319 Team “Help Kids Be Kids” won second place. Professor Karen M. O'Brien and her class have donated more than 500 hours to provide playtime and psycho-educational groups to the children living in the Family Crisis Center of Prince George’s County.
The team was awarded $2,500, which, on top of their fundraising, brings their monetary contribution to renovate the playroom for the children at the Family Crisis Center to $11,684.34.
Professor O’Brien has taught 318-319 courses and has facilitated the placement and mentoring of students in shelter work since 2000.
“I first became interested in intimate partner violence when I volunteered in a shelter for survivors of domestic violence in Chicago as an undergraduate at Loyola University Chicago. I later worked in domestic violence shelters for several years and now serve on the Board of Directors at the Family Crisis Center of Prince George’s County. My research demonstrates the efficacy of these domestic violence courses on students’ understanding of intimate partner violence and their ability to respond effectively to incidents of domestic violence,” Professor O’Brien said.
In addition to the Department of Psychology, student team members are affiliated with BSOS units including the African American Studies Department and the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. They said the experience has enhanced their studies, their career paths and their ability to fulfill the College’s mission to Be the Solution to the world’s great challenges.
“I volunteer at Family Crisis Center because—after learning about the psychology of domestic violence for a semester—I wanted to help any way that I can. Domestic violence is a huge problem in our society. We can help by volunteering at local shelters, by serving as role models for the children who are living in shelter and by allowing the moms time to themselves,” said senior psychology major Christine Cook. “I have found the experience extremely rewarding, especially when you see how excited the children are to see you every week. I look forward to continuing my work with the kids and hope to make a difference through the money we raise!”
BSOS is proud to be a partner with the School of Public Policy and the Honors College in the Do Good Now Fearless Ideas Course.This team-based, highly interactive and dynamic course provides an opportunity for students to generate solutions to a wide range of problems facing many communities today. This course deepens the students understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation practices by guiding them through the creation and implementation process as applied to a project idea of their choice. These projects serve as the laboratory to implement topics such as design systems thinking, developing and communicating a strategy and goals, project management and implementation skills, teamwork and talent management, fundraising and revenue generation, marketing and partner development, leadership skills and project sustainability.
We are proud of our students' commitment to Be the Solution to the world's great challenges!
Published on Wed, Apr 22, 2015 - 11:53AM