"The families that we serve are very grateful for USD's help and the help of our community," stated Sullivan, who said the donation will go toward direct client services such as shelter, food, clothing, transportation and childcare. "The support these students offered is truly outstanding."

To learn about leadership through a local lens, the students partnered with DVSOS and spent the semester learning more about the organization. Last year, the domestic violence program served 428 women, 124 children and five men. The class hosted a spaghetti dinner in December at the Newman Center. The dinner was a component of the students’ IdEA 408: Living a Life of Leadership Capstone course, a senior level class focusing on defining and applying leadership skills. In addition to hosting the dinner fundraiser, students sold raffle tickets for a flat screen TV and smaller prizes that were distributed throughout the evening.

Students participating in the class and fundraising efforts included Samuel Benedict and Daniel Kroeze of Sioux Falls, S.D., Bracy Brown of Pipestone, Minn., Nelson Chang of Knoxville, Tenn., Christopher Gunsolley of South Sioux City, Neb., Jesse Jasman of Sioux City, Iowa, Shawn Littrel of Rapid City, S.D., Lacey Mentele of Crooks, S.D., Nathaniel Price of Brandon, S.D., Andrew Strandell of Watertown, S.D., Kelsey Thomas of Kimball, S.D., and Brandon Wagner of Utica, N.Y.

This project was supported in part from a grant awarded to the Center for Academic Engagement at the University of South Dakota from Learn and Serve America through the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education and the Corporation for National & Community Service.

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