The Schweitzer Club

A wonderful team of middle school students from Coventry, Connecticut, participated in Building Ethical Communities through Service-Learning (BEC) in 1999-2000. BEC includes a workshop for students which is designed to teach the skills of ethical reflection and leadership and apply these skills to service-learning projects. SEE collaborates with the Albert Schweitzer Institute (ASI) to host the workshop. Emma Pietrantonio, Amy Lang, Crystal Hall, Kelly Moran, Shelly Sobol and Caitlin Lonning along with their teacher sponsor Dr. Al Scopino volunteered to attend for Coventry. The team left the workshop highly motivated to create projects to serve the needs of others. Within weeks, the team established The Schweitzer Club. The club served as an organizational structure where the students designed and implemented service-learning projects.

This year the team is enrolled in Coventry High School; and they continue to serve as positive role models for their peers. The Schweitzer Club is flourishing and has expanded to include new middle-school students. Club projects included tutoring and mentoring other students as well as organizing the collection and distribution of new books donated to the school library. A card writing activity for residents at the Rocky Hill Veterans' Home afforded students an opportunity to develop creative writing skills and interact with seniors in the community. The Coventry High Team are also active volunteers at the Holy Family Shelter in Willimantic, CT and provide tutoring and perform household duties. Thank you, Emma, Amy, Crystal, Kelly, Shelly and Caitlin for "keeping those ethics in action!"