Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Community Engagement Office has received the 2009 Brian Fazio Business-Education Partnership Award and staff member Shirley Piepho the Volunteer of the Year Award from Greater Mankato Growth Inc.
The partnership award recognizes the Community Engagement Office’s work to advance the quality of education and reduce hunger in the Mankato area. The office partners with local businesses on a number of efforts, including the Campus Kitchen project and the Mavericks READ children’s literacy program.
The volunteer award went to Minnesota State Mankato conference coordinator Piepho for her work over the years with the Greater Mankato Convention and Visitors Bureau and Greater Mankato Growth.
The awards were presented Nov. 17 at Greater Mankato Growth’s Greater Mankato Business Awards banquet.
The Mavericks READ program pairs college students with pre-school children to help them learn to read and write, aiming to increase the literacy base and stem the dropout rate in Mankato area schools. Earlier this year a Dr. Suess birthday party sponsored by Mavericks READ drew an overflow crowd with more than 700 children. The program also partnered with Barnes & Noble to sponsor a children’s book fair.
Campus Kitchen recovers unserved food from Mankato businesses and charities, repackaging and distributing the food in more than 300 meals a week to those in need. Campus Kitchen has a network of more than 4,000 student and other volunteers, and sponsors events to raise awareness about hunger.
Campus Kitchen coordinator Sammie Eckerson and Mavericks READ coordinator Mymique Baxter accepted the award at the banquet.
“The award demonstrates the community’s awareness of the university’s commitment to give back to the community,” said Marilyn Lott, assistant director for community engagement. “We hope it will also indicate the need for this office as a crucial link between campus and community and, hopefully, encourage the continuation of this program in these difficult economic times.”
Piepho, a long-time Minnesota State Mankato staff member and community volunteer, encourages university professional staff and other organizations – including staffs of the Timberwolves and the Vikings – to take advantage of Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offerings.
“Usually I have one foot in the community and one at the university,” she said. “The partnerships formed between the city and the university are critical to achieving our goal of bringing economic growth and development to this area.”
Minnesota State Mankato programs have won the Brian Fazio Business-Education Partnership Award at least five other times since it debuted in 1995.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 14,950 students and two satellite sites, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which comprises 32 institutions across the state.
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