Andover’s Community Service Program recently selected a new group of coordinators to lead the Student Body for the 2005-2006 school year. As the new General Coordinators, Nick Cohn ’06, Mia Kanak ’06, and Chris Sargent ’06 will oversee all of the projects and make sure that everything runs smoothly. The three heads have high hopes for next year. “I hope we continue to expand the program, increase the interest and participation in service opportunities on and off campus, and basically build on the things [current coordinators] have accomplished this year,” said Sargent. About the new selections for leaders, Community Service Director Chad Green said, “The current general coordinators have done an outstanding job this year. They leave big shoes to fill, but the newly selected group, in addition to returning coordinators, all bring tremendous experience, ideas and energy to the job.” As part of their job description, they will attend weekly general coordinator/Community Service faculty meetings, attend monthly advisory board meetings, and facilitate one of the three working groups. In addition to the three heads, the incoming community service board will consist of 25 members, including coordinators who will direct 21 existing projects. Mr. Green said, “We are very confident that they will form a strong leadership team and that they will contribute significantly to the ongoing community outreach efforts of our program.” Kira Gendlerman ’06 will head the Academy Manor Nursing Home, a program that builds relationships with elderly residents. After-School Art Club, a program offered to local children interested in learning about the exhibitions at the Addison and doing hands-on art activities, will be directed by Kendall Massengill ’06. Andover Chinese Cultural Outreach and Andover Korean Outreach, service programs for families with adopted Chinese and Korean children, will be headed by Wesley Mui ’06 and Jin-Soo Baek ’06, respectively. Ben Kuller ’06 will lead Andover Filmmakers’ Club, which aims to educate middle school kids on the filmmaking process. Jeff Bakkensen ’06 and Sara Scribner ’06 will coordinate ARC, an outreach program for mentally challenged adults. With returning coordinator Megan Evans ’06, and new additions of Sarah Linneman ’06 and Andrew Ostroff ’06, Bread Loaf Pen Pals and Writing Workshop will continue to correspond with third-grade children through weekly letters. Center for Global Justice will be headed by Becky Agostino ’07. Katie Faulkner ’06 will be directing the EMARC Swimming program, which works one-on-one with special needs swimmers, James Watson ’06 and Lucretia Witte ’06 will head English as a Second Language, which teaches English to members of the Commons staff who speak Spanish. As a returning coordinator, Tanner Kaufman ’06 will head Music for Life for the second year. Music For Life links musicians on campus with the elderly. Greg Pucillo ’06 and Jung Min Son ’06 will be in charge of Oxfam, which organizes various activities to raise money and promote awareness for hunger relief programs. Karinna Iniguez ’06 will lead Project V.O.I.C.E., which focuses on citizenship education in Lawrence. Science Club for Girls, a project that allows young Lawrence girls to engage in science experiments, will be run by Stephanie Marton ’07 and returning coordinator Stacy Naughton ’06. Also a veteran coordinator Andrew Hung ’06 will direct SeniorNet, which educates adults about computer technology. Harrison Greer ’06 will be in charge of Service Saturdays. Christa Vardaro ’06 will manage SIS, a project that aims to develop self-esteem and befriend young girls at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club. Michelle Miao ’06 will serve as the head of Theatre Troupe, which coordinates theater workshops for elementary and middle school students. Rashmi Bhat ’06 will lead PA students in World Games. Participants in this program travel to Lawrence to teach strategy-oriented games to children. George Pratt ’06 will be the coordinator of Youth Explorations in Science, an after-school program for fourth graders at Guillmette School in Lawrence. There were over 75 students who applied to fill 22 open positions. Applications were read by the current coordinator board, and decisions were made in a meeting of the current coordinators. Susie Flug, a teaching fellow for the Community Service Program, said, “It was really impressive to see how many motivated students there were at Andover, who were willing to commit their time for others,” said Ms. Flug, a teaching fellow for the Community Service Program.
