Staff member receives national award for developing young leaders

The National Youth Leadership Council recently awarded the 2014 Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award to Joan Liptrot, assistant director of Campus Life for service learning. This award recognizes those who have equipped young people to lead and serve, both through their direct work with youth and by nurturing other practitioners. 

The award will be presented during the 25th annual National Service-Learning Conference on April 11 in Washington, D.C. 

At Rider, Liptrot advises 60 students engaged in the Bonner Community Leaders program and supports faculty implementing service-learning. She is also a former classroom teacher. With 25 years of experience in education, international teacher training and curriculum development, Liptrot has helped youth and adults develop and enhance their service-learning practice.  

As the executive director of the Institute for Global Education and Service-Learning, she provided training and technical assistance to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, community and faith based organizations, as well as national service programs. Working with educators and students in London, Sweden, Lithuania and across the United States, Liptrot developed youth driven service-learning programs in a variety of settings. 

"Joan has made a significant contribution to the service-learning community through her work and tireless passion for developing young leaders,"  says Kelita Bak, NYLC CEO. "Her leadership continues to define the field as intrinsic to 21st century education, living and learning. We’re pleased and honored to present her with this much deserved award." 

Liptrot, who has contributed to several national service-learning program curriculums, is the co-author of Getting Started In Service-Learning andDeveloping Citizenship Through Community Development, as well as the creator of the Multiple Intelligence Reflection Cards for Service-Learning, the Student Reflection Field Guide and co-creator of C3: Connecting Curriculum Categories game.  

Committed to professional development, Liptrot led a group of experts from across the country in creating The Service Learning Trainer’s Toolkit, a compilation of activities and tools for youth and adult trainers, grounded in the research based Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice.