Northern Illinois University professor David Henningsen incorporated a project into his Group Communications course that will benefit area teenagers through The Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois. He says the agency expressed the need to collect Christmas items for teens, and that people have been generous with gifts for small children. But the older children have limited items to choose from. "Often the older kids were overlooked, so that was a challenge they were facing."
Henningsen wants his students to take three components from participating in the project. One that they learn the material from the class; two, create something for their portfolios to show employers; and three, do something good for our community. "A lot of students did a really, really, outstanding job. We had one group this semester raise over 200 gifts."
Henningsen says, the groups had to come up with a business plan to address the problem, and it was optional for them to actually execute the plan. Students got creative with the process too. They had the opportunity to talk to business owners and set up collection boxes.
The project came with a bonus: The group that collected the most items for teens got 50 extra points. "I think there is excitement, and I think the people who actually enact their plans get to see how they can put into work, put into practice they types of things they are learning in the classroom, and I think that in and of itself is rewarding." Henningsen will deliver 500 gifts collected by his students to the social service agency this afternoon.