Marine Science Community Engagement
(Hallmark 4)
Community service is a integral part of the Notre Dame De Namur tradition. As Hallmark four illustrates for us: 'We commit ourselves to community service'. Ranging back from it's foundation in France during the French Revolution, when the sisters would aid the destitute villages with proper education. Then, To Sr. Dorothy Stang's mission of proper education and upholding the dignity of the community starting from across the barren areas of the United States, to the rural parts of the Amazon in Brazil. Then now to the modern day Notre Dame De Namur community keeping this hallmark in a dynamic state. A primary example of this is our upcoming engagement with Ravenswood Elementary in Palo Alto. Palo Alto's school district has been hit with a limited exploration in the field of science for children to focus more on English and Mathematics. This community engagement allows us students, with a science or upper-education background, to interact with students with a thirst for science who have been deprived of it. It is a perfect opportunity to give back to a community that is seeing a lack of science in recent years, with practical learning on the marina of Redwood City. This practical education or 'hands on learning', allows for the information they learn on our engagement to live on in the imaginations and hearts of Palo Alto's future. This particular community engagement resonates with me, and illuminates my mind with learning experiences masked as childhood memories. I can remember a time in my elementary days going to the cornfield in midst of autumn season, learning from farmers and their distinct methods of agriculture. All in all, community service is a core tradition of the Notre Dame De Namur community, and this community engagement is a perfect opportunity to showcase the world this fact.
