IMPACT Scholars
Inspiring Mutuality Participation And Civic Transformation
Formerly known as the Civic Engagement Certificate Program

Civic Engagement is considered to be at the heart of the mission of Wagner College. The IMPACT Scholars program formally known as the Civic Engagement Certificate program is designed for students who have a passion for community service and a desire to continue and advance their commitment to Civic Engagement. Program participants work with the Center for Leadership and Engagement to be facilitators, connectors and conveners that seek to spur collaboration among Wagner students, faculty, staff, and the Staten Island community. In an effort to deepen student learning, sustain civic participation, and bring about positive social change the program provides participants with spaces to explore their understanding of citizenship, their responsibility to contribute to the public welfare, and to access the necessary resources to aid in the development of their civic identity. This is accomplished through a combination of experiences that include but are not limited to:

• Community Service Projects
• Community Internships
• Explorations of scholarly work
• Participation in regional and national conferences
• Professional Development
• Focused workshops
• Training
• Lectures
• Mentorships

Residential students involved in the program are encouraged to live in the Civic Engagement Community in Harborview Hall. Additionally, students involved in the program receive the benefit of early class registration, priority service placement, as well as a notation of completion on their transcript.

Making an IMPACT

Hannah Jenkins

 Hi, I am Hannah Jenkins and I am a senior here at Wagner College majoring in Childhood & Special Education and Psychology. I have been lucky enough to have traveled abroad to Kenya and Haiti on service trips to do my part in helping those in need across the globe. Also, I spent my fall semester student teaching locally in Port Richmond on Staten Island where I was able to help my students learn and grow into community leaders themselves. Next year, I will be serving as a corps member with City Year New York at a public school in Harlem where I will assist with teaching and running the after school program, while being a helpful tutor and supportive mentor to the students.

Jared Leff

Before college I would participate in civic activities throughout my town and through my High School because it was mandatory to graduate. Little did I know that civic engagement and community work would become such a huge part of my college career. Freshman year, my class was assigned to do experiential learning work in a small community called Port Richmond. There my class taught ESL classes to adults, and tutored their children. I had mixed feelings before I went, but after the first night of classes I fell in love with this kind of work. Wagner has so many amazing opportunities to give back to the community. As a senior now, I can say that civic engagement has changed my life.The feeling I get when I am helping the community, or people of that specific community is so rewarding. Getting involved with the Civic Engagement Program (IMPACT Scholars Program) at Wagner was one of the best decisions I made. Being involved and giving back to the community has helped me connect with new people on a business and personal level. My Wagner civic experience is one I will never give up. As far as my civic work helping me grow into my major, my community work got me an internship with The Partnership at Drug-free America, and we are partnering up with Staten Island to help raise awareness to RX Drug abuse epidemic.

Rachel Zaydak

 Rachel is graduating with honors after double majoring in English and Anthropology with a minor in Spanish. Rachel has had several internships while being at Wagner including as a writer for The Juilliard School and a production assistant at Brant Publications. Rachel has worked on campus as a Resident Assistant for 3 years and off campus as an Education Assistant and docent at the Alice Austen House Museum. Rachel participated in the Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans in 2010, the EYH trip to Nairobi Kenya in 2011, and a volunteer service trip the Crow Native American Reservation in Montana in 2010. In the summer of 2011 Rachel traveled to Cusco, Peru with Dr. McEwan to supervise an excavation team at an archaeological site and is returning this summer to do similar work. Rachel has accepted a 9-month assistant English teacher position in Spain that starts in September.

IMPACT Alumni

Emily Burkhardt

 While it may be cliché to say that I have enthusiasm for serving others and making my community a stronger, healthier, and more compassionate place to live, I’m going to say it anyways, because it truly is my foundation. I credit my devotion to service and my perpetual drive to aim higher to my parents. They raised me to think with others in mind, to look at problems as puzzles and come up with resourceful and holistic solutions, and above all to work collaboratively. I’ve been volunteering as long as I can remember, and it is through assisting others that I’ve come to find myself and my personal path in life. Since graduating from Wagner College and the Civic Engagement Program and joining NYC Service Civic Corps, I have spent the last 2 years gaining a breadth and depth in proficiencies related to managing volunteers, building and sustaining effective programming, and growing community partnerships that increase the capacity and impact of the mission of the organization. I hope to continue to make progress by enacting legislation, empowering clients and creating sustainable programs, and spend my life in active service to others.