Date: June 12, 2007
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director,
Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu
PNC Faculty Members Honored by Red Cross
Carrie Higgins
continuing lecturer in
Communication
Dr. Sharron Jenkins
assistant professor
of Chemistry
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WESTVILLE – Purdue University North Central faculty members Carrie Higgins, continuing lecturer in Communication and Dr. Sharron Jenkins, assistant professor of Chemistry, were honored recently by the American Red Cross LaPorte County Chapter for their work in aiding the Red Cross in the community.
Higgins earned the Partnership Award in recognition of the Service Learning projects she has incorporated into her classroom curriculum during recent semester. This past spring semester six students worked on disaster preparedness awareness for LaPorte County Clinton and Cass townships. Students updated records of key community leaders, groups and possible shelter locations and identified vulnerable areas, highways and rail lines. They also developed a plan to get 500 preparedness brochures in the hands of local residents, with two students attending a Lions Club pancake breakfast, while others distributed brochures to local businesses.
The students also put together a disaster preparedness presentation for Wanatah Elementary School students. Bobbi Petru, chapter executive director, explained that these Service Learning projects give PNC students an opportunity to learn about the Red Cross and provided the chapter with much-needed manpower to complete the vital tasks.
Jenkins was recognized for her leadership role in bringing Red Cross certification in HIV/Aids education to the community. Jenkins, with two instructor-trainers from the Indianapolis area, led an instructor training course that met on the PNC campus and was able to certify 13 new instructors. She also shared her plans for HIV/Aids education at the LaPorte County chapter annual meeting.
Jenkins is a member of the LaPorte County Chapter board of directors.
In addition, Kent Lange, PNC continuing lecturer of Biology was also elected to the American Red Cross LaPorte County Chapter Board of Directors for a three- year term, beginning July 1.
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