The Garrison Suite at the Tampa Downtown Hilton buzzed with excitement as the Institute’s 13 new scholars met and interacted with representatives from six local community agencies: 1) BayCare Behavioral Health; 2) Hillsborough County Children Services; 3) Hillsborough County Public Schools; 4) Frameworks; 5) Mendez Foundation; and 6) Pasco County Schools. The Institute’s Service Learning Fair at the 29th Annual Research and Policy Conference on Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Behavioral Health held in Tampa on March 13 gave Cohort 4 the opportunity to discuss their research interests with their fellow scholars and learn about the community agencies. Some of the Institute’s national advisory board members also attended and supported the new scholars by answering questions and sharing their expertise. By the end of the 2016 spring semester, scholars will be grouped into teams and matched with academic mentors and community agencies to begin the first steps of their four-semester service learning research project.

Additionally, the Institute awarded the Mendez Foundation the first-ever “Community Partner Award” for its dedication and commitment over the past four years to collaborate and mentor Institute scholars. Cohort 1 Scholar and current Community Partner, Kimberly Menendez, accepted the award on behalf of the Mendez Foundation.

Kimberly Menendez and Dr. Tom Massey with the “Community Partner Award” for the Mendez Foundation.