Contact: Joy Pedersen Harkins
Student Life and Leadership
805-756-6749; jharkins@calpoly.edu
Two Cal Poly Students Earn Volunteer Award
with Diversity Efforts
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The city Parks and Recreation Commission recognized Cal Poly students Addie Virta and Missy Sparks as its January Volunteers of the Month for their work with local children through a campus group called Language Outreach and Opportunities for Kids (LOOK).
Virta and Sparks are the student co-coordinators of LOOK, which operates through Student Community Services in Cal Poly’s Student Life and Leadership office.
Through LOOK, Cal Poly students with an interest in other languages and cultures from around the world visit the “Sun n Fun” after-school program at five of the city’s elementary schools for hour-long lessons. The Cal Poly students teach “Sun n Fun” youngsters the basics about other countries, including languages, cultures and an appreciation of diversity.
Virta, who is from Danville, Calif., and Sparks, from Sacramento, are juniors at Cal Poly. Both have been involved with LOOK for two years. Virta is studying nutrition (with a minor in French), plays lacrosse and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Kappa Alpha Theta. Sparks is studying environmental management and protection, plays intramural soccer and is a member of the Cal Poly chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals.
“LOOK is an excellent example of the work that students are doing in our community,” said Joy Pedersen Harkins, a staff member with Student Life and Leadership. “Student volunteers are an asset to San Luis Obispo County, and it is exciting to see them recognized and honored. I encourage any campus community member who is interested in volunteering to check out Student Community Services or any of the other programs in The Community Center at Cal Poly.”
Visit http://www.studentlife.calpoly.edu/scs/programs/look.asp for more on Cal Poly’s LOOK program, or call Cal Poly’s Student Community Services at 805-756-5834.
###