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| Parents honor alumnus with community service fellowship RELEASED: March 9, 2007
EAU CLAIRE — The parents of a recent UW-Eau Claire alumnus, recognizing the benefit of community service, have established and named a new community service fellowship for their son. This is the second award they have established in honor of their son. The Ryan Prechel Community Service Fellowship, established by Nancy and David Prechel, will provide a $1,250 scholarship to a student or group of students who have a specific community service activity they wish to complete. The community service must directly impact the lives of those served. The Prechels live in Hillsboro and Ryan lives in Rochester, Minn. The Prechels wanted to recognize students who, like their son Ryan, demonstrate a balanced approach to their education focusing on excellence in academics and campus and community leadership and service to others. Ryan, an honors student, graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in computer science. While a student, he coordinated Honors Week activities for many collegiate honor societies, twice served as master of ceremonies of the Honors Banquet, created and maintained honor society Web sites, and was a member and leader of numerous honor societies. He also was a student research assistant, worked for Habitat for Humanity, was a member of the student dance organization Two to Tango, and was an assistant scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America. In 2006, the Prechels established a scholarship in Ryan's name that is awarded annually to an outstanding Honors Program student. The recipient of that scholarship also is able to designate some funds for the service organization of his or her choice on campus or off. "Ryan exemplified the benefits of community service-learning," said Donald Mowry, director of the Center for Service-Learning at UW-Eau Claire. "He demonstrated that community service-learning is not only an excellent teaching tool, but it is also a vehicle for preparing students to be citizens and leader for today and tomorrow. Universities have a mission of preparing students for careers, but they also have a mission to prepare students for active engaged ethical and responsible citizenship." Applications are now being taken for the fellowship. The applications are available in the Center for Service-Learning, Schneider Hall Room 113A, on the UW-Eau Claire campus. The deadline for application is April 1. The recipient will have up to a year to complete the service project and provide a report on it. The fellowship can be used for items such as supplies, materials, resource and nominal travel and lodging expenses if the service activity is located outside the greater Chippewa Valley.
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