For the second year in a row, Dr. Stacey Garrett, an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies at Appalachian’s Reich College of Education (RCOE), received the Alternative Service Experience (ASE) Outstanding Learning Partner award for her work with the International ASE program in Belize. Along with two undergraduate student leaders and 12 undergraduate students of varying majors, she embarked on a week-long service project in the Belize Botanic Gardens over spring break. The program was sponsored by the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) office. Garrett has served as a Learning Partner for an ASE at Appalachian for two years.
"It's truly an honor to be recognized again in this way,” said Garrett. “Each group has been uniquely different, but filled with the most amazing and genuine students.”
“The iASE program has given me the opportunity to work with undergraduates, which I don't do every day,” she added.
In addition to Garrett’s award, her undergraduate student leaders, Ann Sekutowski and Abigail Jackson received the International ASE Outstanding Peer Leaders Award for their work.
“To know that my peer leaders were also recognized for their leadership is so exciting,” said Garrett. “I know something special took place during this program in Belize."
The awards were announced via the ASE Instagram page, with a short quote from ther nominators. Garrett’s nominator said, "Dr. Stacey was the best learning partner I could have asked for. She was a really calming presence on our ASE...she made everyone feel really safe and like everything was going to be ok."
The awards were announced via the ASE Instagram page, with a short quote from their nominators. Garrett’s nominator said, "Dr. Stacey was the best learning partner I could have asked for. She was a really calming presence on our ASE...she made everyone feel really safe and like everything was going to be ok."
Throughout the program, Garrett worked alongside students during service days and nightly reflection activities constructed around the four pillars of ASE: Service Together, Full Engagement, Thoughtful Dialogue, and Simple Living. Both Garrett and the students lived on-site and learned about the Belize Botanic Gardens and adjacent nature reserve in San Ignacio, Belize. Service projects included plant propagation, regenerative soil building and composting, pruning, trail maintenance, planting, nursery management, and preparing goods for market. These activities supported local garden education programs, special collections and community projects. Students were encouraged to take what they have learned in Belize about native plants and ecosystems to apply principles of regenerative practices to their everyday lives and issues in their own community.
In the middle of the program, news broke of the spread of Coronavirus in the United States, and despite the rapid change in university policy and unknowns for the semester, the program was completed and students were able to return as planned, safe and healthy.
Garrett earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership, higher education at Clemson University, her master of education in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in college student personnel administration at James Madison University, and her bachelor’s of business administration in marketing at the College of William and Mary. She joined the RCOE faculty in 2017.
About Alternative Service Experience at Appalachian
The mission of the Alternative Service Experience program at Appalachian State University is to provide learning opportunities by engaging in meaningful service and dialogue.
Alternative Service Experience (ASE) programs provide students with an opportunity to serve, learn, explore, and make a difference in the community on a local, national, or global level during their breaks from school. ASE programs vary in focus, length and cost, but all provide the same components of service, learning, exploration and the opportunity for transformational learning experiences.
About the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) Office
Appalachian & the Community Together (ACT) provides service experiences as opportunities to connect and engage with others to build authentic relationships, stimulate critical thinking and skill building, and recognize individual impact and responsibility to our local and global community.
Belize Alternative Service Experience Group Photo
