Career Counselor Kelly Kowatch of SI Career Services has been named the recipient of the Rosalie Ginsberg Award for Community Service & Social Action as an outstanding staff member at the University. Each year, the Ginsberg Center recognizes members of the U-M community and community partners who have committed themselves to service and social action.
Posted tagged ‘ASB’
Ginsberg Center cites SI’s Kelly Kowatch
March 4, 2009ASB in D.C. a hit
March 4, 2009Alternative Spring Break in D.C. was great. I spent the week at ALA’s policy department and was exceptionally warmly received. I (and my fellow colleague Greg Grossmeier) did some policy focused research for ALA, research and summarizing topics of interest to us (Greg covered the Hathi Trust, I covered Universal Service in Broadband Internet). In addition to time in the office, we were able to attend a Housing Committee hearing and a GoogleBooks symposium (discussing the recent proposed setttlement).
There were also evening events. Of note was the alumni event, because a lot of SI graduates go to D.C. It was great to meet and greet, to talk about the town, to discuss opportunities,and to network.
On top of that, I got to walk the Washington Mall, get a stern glare from a Capitol Hill security officer and see the Declaration of Independence. In six days. Busy but awesome.
Thanks to Kelly for all the behind-the-scenes work, Alan and Tim at ALA for hosting us and my car ride buddies who fed me snacks and kept me hydrated.
ASB students to reflect on experiences
March 1, 2009All 2009 Alternative Spring Break participants at SI are invited to share their experiences at this post-ASB reflective session. Come learn about what everyone else did while they were on ASB in New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. — and share your own story, if you wish. The event will be from noon-1 p.m Thursday, March 5 in the Ehrlicher Room, 411 West Hall. All are welcome to come listen. SI Career Services is the sponsor.
Off they go! ASB’ers take to the road
February 19, 2009How do you get 94 master’s students to New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., for their Alternative Spring Break adventures? With a lot of planning, for one thing. Kelly Kowatch, career counselor in SI Career Services who coordinates the program, said the students will head for their destinations over the next three days and then spend the break period from February 23-27 working at various public sector sites.
Alumni will welcome SI students to D.C.
February 17, 2009There will be quite a few alumni events in the next few months! I hope some of them will be in your neck of the woods. A group of alumni in the Washington, D.C., area are inviting SI students participating in the annual (Alternative Spring Break program in D.C.) to get together from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 26 at the Hawk and Dove), 329 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (ZIP Code: 20003). The students always appreciate the opportunity to meet alumni and hear about life in the “real world!” Let me know if you think you can attend at kjordan@umich.edu.
Cease-fire declared, ASB wins Penny War
February 14, 2009The jousting for positions in the Penny War has come to a peaceful end, and the Alternative Spring Break program at the School of Information has been declared the winner.
Thanks to contributions from students, faculty, and staff, the ASB program received $1764.74 during the five-day battle. You can take a look at the results in graphic detail.
“We raised a lot of money for SI Alternative Spring Break 2009, and on behalf of the fundraising committee and all students involved in ASB this year, I would like to thank everyone who donated!” said master’s student Lori Donovan, reporting from the front lines.
Even though the war is over, contributions to the ASB program can still be made. Checks, payable to the “University of Michigan,” can be sent to the Office of Development and External Relations, 304 West Hall, 1085 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor, 48109-1107. Please indicate that your gift is in support of the ASB program.
ASB scores some press
February 12, 2009SI’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program is featured in a story in today’s U-M Record Update (the U’s daily e-newsletter).
The ASB program at U-M’s Ginsberg Center is also covered, which points up an interesting comparison. Any of the 24,000-plus undergraduates at U-M can participate in the Ginsberg Center ASB program; this year 575 undergrads chose to take part. At SI 94 students out of an MSI program total of 350 have chosen to take part in this year’s ASB — more than one out of four. Not bad.
What will those 94 MSI students be doing? Tackling information problems at nonprofits, government agencies, museums, libraries, and more in New York, Chicago, and D.C. You can read more about it at asb.si.umich.edu.
Now if we could just figure out why spring break takes place in winter.
It’s a war, one cent at a time
February 9, 2009That sound you hear is the clink, clink of coins for the benefit of the Alternative Spring Break program at SI. Students are collecting money at a table on the third floor landing of West Hall from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. until February 13. Collection boxes are also be in place at SI North.
If you have never taken sides in a penny war before, here are the rules. On offense, put pennies in the container corresponding with your SI affiliation. On defense, put silver change, bills, and checks in the containers of your opponents to detract from their totals. Checks, payable to the University of Michigan, will ensure that you receive a gift statement for tax purposes.
Choose your group based on the following:
- ARM and PI
- HCI, IAR and SC
- IPOL, ICD and IEMP
- LIS (with K-12 school media)
- CI and Tailored
- Faculty, Staff, and Ph.D.
You can check group standings throughout the week.
And if you want to get an idea what ASB is all about, take a look at the 10-year recap in this anniversary video.
