Five nursing students won the Step Out of Your Box Awards at RRC’s Volunteer Appreciation Event! Congratulations to Melissa Zulak, Rebecca McLachlan, Angela Switzer, Shelby Marks, and Chantal Meilleur!

Melissa Zulak, Rebecca McLachlan, Angela Switzer

The Step Out of Your Box program enables students to explore a dimension of diversity different from their own through service-learning at a community organization. As part of the Gender Studies for Health Professionals course, students had the option of choosing to participate in the program (specifically focused on a dimension of gender) rather than writing a final research paper. The program also offers 4 awards (this year 5!) to students for exceptional leave-behind projects and reflections on their experience. Although the program is open to the entire college, all five awards went to nursing students this year!

Melissa Zulak, Neeva Vuong, Rebecca McLachlan, Angela Switzer, Chelsea Francisco, Meagen Chorney

Each student completed 7 volunteer hours with a community organization of their choice, developed a leave-behind project (either independently or as a group) that benefitted the organization, and wrote a reflection on their experience. Our five winners, and all the students who participated in the program, had a positive learning experience, made a meaningful impact on the community they volunteered with, and taught their peers through their in-class reflections.

Congratulations to our winners!

Melissa Zulak

Melissa Zulak: Volunteered with Queer People of Color (QPOC) – Created a comprehensive QPOC resource booklet (with Kirstie Castellano and Kyleene Phillips)

Rebecca McLachlan

Rebecca McLachlan: Volunteered with Willow Place – Organized a drive for pajamas, shampoo, soaps, and feminine hygiene supplies (with Ursula Beer, Kharren Capuno, and Maria Capinpin)

Angela Switzer: Volunteered at Main Street Project – Created the Winnipeg Sisterhood Project to collect feminine hygiene products. The Winnipeg Sisterhood Project is still running! Check out Angela’s Facebook page to contribute!

Angela Switzer

Shelby Marks: Volunteered at Men’s Shed – Created information pamphlets and a welcome flyer (with Candace Blahey and Gurpreet Sandhu)

Chantal Meilleur: Volunteered with the Like That program at Sunshine House – Collected and created supplies for their gardening project (with Tamara Marynowski)

A special thank you to Tracey Fallak, Nursing Curriculum Coordinator and Margaret Rauliuk, Chair of the Association of Registered Nurses of Manitoba for coming out to support and celebrate with the students!

Also thank you to Neeva Vuong and Chelsea Francisco for coming out to the event and for the amazing work on their own Step Out of Your Box projects!

Finally, thank you to all the nursing students who participated in the Step Out of Your Box program this year!

Kirstie Castellano – Queer People of Color (QPOC) – Resource Booklet
Melanie Centeno – Sunshine House – Instructional Materials for the Breakfast Program
Sarah Dela Cruz – Willow Place – Food Drive
Chelsea Francisco – Sunshine House – Promotional Photography
Nicole Geli – Willow Place – Food Drive
Omalara Olayinka – Sunshine House – Winter Coat Drive and Donation List
Kyleene Phillips – Queer People of Color (QPOC) – Resource Booklet
Neeva Vuong – Sunshine House – Paint Night
Ursula Beer – Willow Place – Pajamas and Hygiene Products Drive
Candace Blahey – Men’s Shed – Information Pamphlets and Welcome Flyer
Maria Capinpin – Willow Place – Pajamas and Hygiene Products Drive
Kharren Capuno – Willow Place – Pajamas and Hygiene Products Drive
Tamara Marynowski – Sunshine House – Gardening Supplies
Gurpreet Sandhu – Men’s Shed – Information Pamphlets and Welcome Flyer

Written by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor
Photos by Meagen Chorney – Nursing Instructor