Martin Luther King Jr. Semester of Service Student Award
UMass Chan Medical School is proud to sponsor the Martin Luther King Jr. Semester of Service Student awards for the 14th year. These awards are designed to support student-driven service projects in the communities that surround the UMass Chan Worcester campus. Students from the TH Chan Medical School, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences are invited to submit proposals outlining community service projects they hope to undertake in the Spring semester. The top four ideas will receive funding awards of $500. These awards are supported by the Diversity and Inclusion Office and the Office for Community and Government Relations.
Proposals for 2024 Awards are due by midnight on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024. Winners will be announced on UMass Chan Med News on MLK Day and recognized by the Dean and Chancellor at the medical school's annual MLK Day celebration on January 31, 2024. Awardees will be selected by members of the Service Subcommittee of the CEOD.
Priority will be given to projects that meet the following criteria:
• Enhance or strengthen existing relationships with the Worcester community
• Address both community needs and student learning objectives
• Provide opportunities for a diverse range of UMass Chan community members to work together
• Increase the number of students, staff and faculty engaged in with community
• Include opportunities for learners to reflect on their experience engaging in community centered work
• Contribute to health equity and the elimination of health disparities by addressing social determinants of health, including issues of racism, bias and discrimination
How do I apply?
Applicants must be current UMass Chan Medical School Worcester students in good academic and professional standing who wish to organize and run a community service project during the spring 2024 semester. Students are encouraged to partner with a local organization that is a non-profit with 501c3 or other tax-exempt status. For assistance connecting with a community partner or to learn more about the award, interested students can speak with Lynn Hernandez or Che Anderson, co-chairs of the CEOD Service sub-committee.
Please submit an application containing all of the items specified below.
1. Student name(s), school, class; please identify one primary student contact with name, email and phone. Note that the funds will be distributed to this person.
2. Community-based organization name(s), contact name, email and phone
3. Narrative (no more than three pages) that includes:
• Project overview
• Explanation of community needs/assets being addressed
• Student learning objectives
• Proposed activities and timeline
• Description of target audience and participants
• Plan for recruiting and training of participants
• Plan for reflection and evaluation of results
• Budget narrative – detail how money will be spent
How do I submit my proposal?
Email completed proposals to the Diversity and Inclusion Office, DEIPrograms@umassmed.edu
What is the deadline?
All proposals are due by midnight on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024. Late proposals will not be considered.
What is expected of students who receive Student Awards?
All students who receive an award are expected to plan and execute a community service project during the Spring semester. All materials created in the execution of the project should bear the UMass Chan Medical School logo. A brief final report documenting the use of funds, number of participants, outcomes of the project, and lessons to be shared with future awardees will be requested at the end of spring semester. Recipients will also be asked to submit a progress summary detailing lessons learned, and outcomes accomplished to be published in UpNext!
2023 Winners
1. Seeing Eye to Eye: Enhancing access to interprofessional care at Wesley Eye clinic - To expand Worcester community members’ access to free eye screening by engaging UMass Chan Medical School students, ophthalmology residents and attendings to volunteer at the Wesley Eye clinic.
Students: Jessica Eskander, SOM 24, Claire Meyerovitz, SOM 23, and Danielle Heims-Waldron, SOM 24.
2. Breaking Medical Barriers thru Advocacy for Worcester Survivors - To pair medical and nursing students with survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation to act as liaisons for medical care and healthcare provider appointments. Student: Stevie Yan, SOM 2024, Evelyn Semenov, SOM 2023, Rosemary Cobb, SOM 2025, Shivi Maheswaran, SOM 2023, Ana-Maria Poole, SOM 2026, and Ariana Fantakis Ettorre, SOM 2026
3. Implementing shade for a Brighter Future - To collaborate with Worcester Public Schools and the City of Worcester’s Urban Forestry team to host and facilitate educational sessions on the hazards of heat islands, and to host an annual hands-on tree planting event for the Worcester community.
Students: Max Kinne, SOM 25, Ryan Chen, SOM 25, Adrienne Conza, SOM 26, Yuying Zhang, SOM 26, and Christopher Fay, SOM 23.
4. Bridging the Gap of Access to Dermatologic Care in Patients Experiencing Homelessness - To provide free skin cancer screening and dermatology consultation services in homeless shelters and through free clinic events in the city of Worcester.
Students: Stephanie Choi, SOM 2025, and Nicole Loranger, SOM 2024