³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ

Published October 27, 2022
By Darlene Muguiro
³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ College of Health Sciences 

Thanks to the efforts of two CHS professors, ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ was recently awarded the institutional partner of the year award from The $100 Solution, a nonprofit organization focused on engaging university students in creating sustainable change in their communities through micro-investments of $100. Dr. Carolina Valencia, clinical assistant professor and director of the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program, and Dr. Eva Moya, associate professor and interim chair of Social Work, lead ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ’s work with the organization, embedding the content into their curriculum and engaging students each year in the program.

³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ was recognized at the $100 Solution’s annual awards ceremony earlier this year. In a note accompanying the physical award sent to Moya and Valencia, Elaine Flynn, Chief Operating Officer for The $100 Solution, wrote: “The Institution Award is presented to the partner that has made the most significant contribution to $100 Solution through creative programming and accompanying projects. Thanks for all you do to enrich lives and learning.”

Annually, Moya and Valencia pair undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences program and master’s students in Social Work with community partners to implement projects addressing health-related quality of life issues. The students are given $100 to use for materials and other needs to implement the project. The students first complete a needs assessment to identify gaps, and then create a plan of action. Over the project period, the students collect and analyze data, assess the impact of the project on the community, and present the results in a poster presentation at the College of Health Sciences and at national conferences.

Valencia said she was touched by the award and honored by the continued partnership with the organization. The initiative continues to remain one of the most successful examples of community-engaged scholarship in the College of Health Sciences.

“Over the last three years, more than 100 students have touched the lives of over 1000 vulnerable El Pasoans, including the homeless, elderly in residential centers, human trafficking victims, immigrants, and children living at El Paso’s Center against Family and Sexual Violence, among others,” said Valencia. 

Moya added that the initiative has impacted her own teaching, noting that while strategies had to be changed during the COVID pandemic, students adapted well and continued to remain engaged. She foresees continued successes for both students and the community partners they serve.

 “Over the years and especially during the pandemic, we learned to adapt, and manage and transform a crisis into a meaningful, high-impact educational learning and practice experience; strengthen our pedagogical skills; and use untapped talents to thrive,” said Moya. “From student engagement, to effective content delivery, to mindful assessment, we will continue to adapt to new realities to ensure we build on the unique diversity of our community, a caring culture and strong community-engaged scholarship.”

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