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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Faculty Affect More Than Students' Lives


Our students in service-learning work in many ways to serve others, like developing lessons plans for after-school programs, assisting people with special needs, and tending a neighborhood garden. We have been told countless times about the value and importance of the students' work in community organizations. Sometimes, though, the impact is even greater.

In an art course last semester with Kathy Farrell, associate professor, and Jason Smith, instructor, in Visual and Performing Arts, a project to create portraits has had an unforgettable effect. I want to share the following letter with you that we received from the coordinator of the Memory Portraits Project in which people draw/paint portraits of children in orphanages in other countries who do not have accessibility to cameras. The portraits give the children a keepsake from their childhood.

"Dear Kathy, Jason, Susan, Debra, and others,

As I was going through your incredible, incredible portraits just now, I came upon one that deserves a special comment, and that is the portrait for Maria Eugenia Blandon Gonzalez that was created by your student named Leah Summerville Farrar. This portrait is absolutely breathtaking.  It brought tears to my eyes when I saw it, because I am sad to say that Maria Eugenia is no longer with us.  She had been battling cancer for several years before she passed away this spring. Her death caused a deep pain for everyone at the orphanage.  When I was there last summer, Maria Eugenia was actually in Germany, where a kind doctor had volunteered to cover her expenses for rigorous chemotherapy and surgery.  Everyone - all of the children - prayed for her as a group when they assembled before every meal.  Maria Eugenia was particularly close to the director of the orphanage, Carlos (a warm, grandfatherly man) and his wife.  It was actually Carlos' wife who accompanied her to Germany for those final treatments.

When I arrive at the orphanage in two weeks, I will present this invaluable portrait on behalf of Leah to Carlos and his wife.  I know that it will bring tears to their eyes and warmth to their hearts.  I am sure that they will hang it in a place of honor in their home, to hold their precious memory of Maria Eugenia.

Thank you for this, Ben"

Susan Bender
Service-Learning
07/03/2007