Campus Compact for New Hampshire honored the Many Options after-school program at the fifth annual Presidents’ Award Ceremony on Apr. 15 at the CR Sparks Center in Bedford, NH.

The Many Options program was presented with the Community Partner Award from Keene State College. According to Mary McEntee, Community Service Coordinator at KSC, the award is given to a nonprofit organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with a college or university.

“The Many Options Program has been a resource for Keene State College students to gain experience working with children,” says Mary McEntee. 

Keene State College students volunteer, work, intern and complete course related projects with the program. The program employs four Keene State College students through the federal work study program as well as a Keene State College Americorps member. The Many Options program has developed Service-Learning partnerships with the Women’s Studies Psychology Education and Sociology departments as well as the Dietetic Intern program. 

“Many Options is not only responsive to requests for partnerships, but also takes the initiative to present ideas for future projects. These collaborative efforts have set them apart, resulting in a meaningful and dependable partnership with Keene State College through the community service and service-learning programs,” Mary McEntee.

The Presidents’ Awards honor students, faculty, and community partners who have made a community impact on their campus. Honorees from 24 colleges and universities were recognized in one of three categories: Presidents’ LeadershipAward, Presidents’ Good Steward Award and the Presidents’ Community Partner Award.

Linda Rubin, Director of the Youth Initiatives Office for Monadnock Family Services and Rebecca Davis, Coordinator of the Many Options program accepted the award from Keene State College President Giles-Gee. 

“Our partnership with Keene State College is a win-win for KSC students and our program participants,” says Linda Rubin. “Students gain real world, professional experience and our middle schoolers benefit from the mentoring relationships that take place between them and the college students.”

Founded in 1997, Campus Compact for New Hampshire is a statewide consortium of college and university presidents and private sector partners who are united in their commitment to the civic purposes of higher education. The mission is to be a catalyst to integrate community service and civic responsibility throughout the academic and student life goals of its member institutions.

The Many Options Program is one of five programs in the Youth Initiatives Office of Monadnock Family Services. The mission of the program is to cultivate resiliency, healthy development and social skills in youth. Monadnock Family Services and the Many Options program are supported in part by the Monadnock United Way.