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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2020)
Wednesday, April 15, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon GRAD: Galant-LaPorte an advocate for student involvement Continued from page 3 students who have already demonstrated a capacity for leadership and large-scale problem-solving.= Galant-LaPorte9s involve- ment in the community of Walla Walla is shown by her commitment to an organiza- tion called SCORE (Summer Community Outreach Engagements). <I was involved in SCORE my first semester at Whitman. Basically, it is an outreach program that strives to connect students with their surrounding community,= said Galant-LaPorte. She continued to be an advocate for the program into her second year at Whitman College and works with the offices of student affairs to make the program free for students to be involved in. She believes strongly in the mission of SCORE to con- nect students to their com- munity during the summer months and into the school year. Galant-LaPorte is cur- rently a head coordinator for SCORE. Last year, she attended a conference in Houston with other universi- ties and programs similar to SCORE where she was able to connect with other lead- ers and create a curriculum to teach students about the importance of involvement and engagement. She also served as a resi- dent assistant for the commu- nity service resident hall in her second year. <I really strive to change the narrative from being about students serving their community to students being a part of and involved in their community,= she said. Galant-LaPorte believes that engagement is not the same as service and sees that service can become a part of being engaged. <I think it9s important for students to be intentional about becoming involved in the community where they go to university& it9s kind SUDOKU SOLUTION for puzzle on page 18 of like staying in someone9s house for four years; you want to help out and support the existing structure, but not try and change it. That has been my intention here in Walla Walla since the begin- ning,= she said. For Galant-LaPorte, the passion and drive for com- munity involvement comes from how and where she was raised. Galant-LaPorte was raised and went to school in the community of Sisters. Her family lives near Redmond, and she attended school in Redmond, but spent five years in Sisters schools from 8th through12th grade. <Coming from a small town, I was taught the narra- tive that you are a part of a community. The relationship of the school and the commu- nity was also so strong, there was never any disconnect and that is what I was used to,= she said. Galant-LaPorte was involved in student govern- ment and leadership during her time at SHS and recog- nized she was learning by doing things for the school and community 4 such as being a part of Mr. SHS, a community fundraiser pag- eant for the Family Access Network. She was also an intern for the IEE class where she was taught that so much education can happen outside of the classroom. <I remember in IEE (teacher Rand) Runco tell- ing his stories about com- munity members and con- necting with Sisters by learn- ing outside of the classroom and learning how to protect our community and our resources,= she said. Galant-LaPorte wanted to bring that community- school connection with her when she moved to the small rural town of Walla Walla, Washington. <There are way more out- siders that come into Walla Walla to attend the univer- sity here, and that creates a disconnect between students and the community that they are in,= she said. She believes that any community you are in is a school and those who enter a new community have to take the time to understand that. <I believe that education has always been a secret change-maker and I think it9s important to be intentional and thoughtful and willing to learn when you enter a new community as a student,= she said. Galant-LaPorte plans to continue her work with SCORE as the lead coordina- tor. Next year, she will also be taking on a position with the city of Walla Walla as coordinator of neighborhood engagement. She has already been talking with the cur- rent coordinator in the wake of COVID-19 about mutual aid systems and how a rural community is impacted by something like COVID-19. Current events are also relating directly to what she is studying at Whitman. Galant-LaPorte is majoring in sociology and is hoping to go into an emphasis on pub- lic and community health in rural areas. <I think now more than RESIDENTIAL FARM & RANCH PATTY CORDONI 541.771.0931 patty.cordoni@cascadesir.com Principal Broker Residential Sales, Farm and Ranch Division CascadeSothebysRealty.com | Each offi ce independently owned and operated. Discover the Diff erence Chris Scott Principal Broker Broker 541-420-9997 541-588-6614 phil.arends@cascadesir.com chris.scott@cascadesir.com Licensed in the State of Oregon Licensed in the State of Oregon SOUTH MEADOW 175 • $540,000 • mls 202001928 Centrally located home with great rental history. DARLING UPDATED HOME IN VILLAGE AT COLD SPRINGS GOLF HOME 205 • $119,000 • mls 201911023 1/4 share available on unique reverse-living home. Electric lift services all three levels. 543 N. Freemont Street, Sisters Immaculate single-level, open fl oor plan. 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,580 sq. ft. 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Next year, being a recipient of the Newman Civic Fellowship, she will be attending a con- ference in Boston, PHOTO PROVIDED Massachusetts, Zidane Galant-LaPorte recently received where she will get to the Newman Civic Fellowship for her meet and communi- work at Whitman College in Walla Walla, cate with other recip- Washington. ients from other uni- versities about better- ing community engagement. <I am incredibly grateful In addition to training and and humbled by receiving resources, Campus Compact this award. I wasn9t expect- provides significant learn- ing it and I am honored to be ing and networking oppor- surrounded by so many peo- tunities, including a national ple doing so many awesome conference in partnership things,= she said. <If any- with the Edward M. Kennedy thing, this award allows me Institute for the United States to have a larger platform to Senate. spread my message,= she said. 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