Lourdes College

10/19/2009

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