In honor of their dedication to community service, the Department of Art and Chair Erin Palmer-Szavuly were presented with the San Damiano Service Learning Faculty Recognition Award by Lourdes' Office of Mission and Ministry.
“A few years ago, the Department instituted a service requirement for all students enrolled in studio art courses,” offers Sr. Barbara Vano, Director of Campus Ministry. “The faculty didn't just institute the requirement for students; they modeled it through their own commitment to service.”
Among the Department's many service initiatives is a project benefiting All Saints Catholic School. Last spring, the faculty worked with All Saints to develop art projects for a silent auction fundraiser.
The auction, which raised crucial dollars for the school's endowment fund, included seven types of art projects including:
Ceramic Wall Sculpture
Assistant Professor Todd Matteson
All Saints First Grade
Marbleized Glass Ornaments
All Saints Third Grade
Hand-Painted Furniture
Chair Erin Palmer-Szavuly, Administrative Assistant Susan Grace-Glidden and Lourdes Art Student Melinda Hallenbeck
All Saints Fifth Grade
Distressed Furniture
Lourdes Art Student Dianne Kinkaid
All Saints Sixth Grade
Hand-Painted Silk Scarves
Fiber Arts Instructor Sr. Sharon Havelak, OSF
All Saints Fourth Grade
Etched Prints
Printmaking Instructor Patrick DuBreuil
All Saints Seventh Grade
Relief Tile Wall Sculptures
Assistant Professor Sr. Jane Mary Sorosiak, OSF
All Saints Eighth Grade
“I am extremely grateful to the faculty for their continued dedication to serving others,” notes Erin. “Their willingness to share their time and artistic talent is a constant source of inspiration for our students and models the Franciscan values and mission of Lourdes College.”
For more information about the Lourdes College Department of Art, please contact Erin Szavuly at 419-824-3685 or email eszavuly@lourdes.edu
Through their personal commitment to service, the Lourdes College Department of Art supports the following organizations:
The Ability Center
American Cancer Society
Arts Commission of Greater Toledo
Athena Art Society
Bethany House
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Empty Bowls
Interfaith Justice and Peace Center
Medici Circle
Muscular Dystrophy Association of Northwest Ohio
Northwest Ohio Kidney Foundation
Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition
Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
St. Aloysius, Bowling Green
St. Leonard, Centerville
St. Raphael, Garden City, MI
St. Richard Parish, Swanton
Scholar Rescue Fund
Science Alliance for Valuing the Earth (SAVE)
Studio Art Centers International
Sylvania Arts Commission
Sylvania Chamber of Commerce
Toledo Area Humane Society
Toledo Federation of Art Societies
Toledo Museum of Art
Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group for Children
The Victory Center
Women Blessing Women