Bruce Morgenstern

I am an AACPS: Business Partner | Community Member | Volunteer

As President of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center, a volunteer at Annapolis High School for the past 2 1/2 years, and a supporter of the other high schools in the county, I can’t emphasize enough the value that community members can provide to their local schools through volunteering.  And I’m not talking about making copies in the school office (although that’s a big help also).

Students crave relevance to the academics that they are learning.  Community members bring that relevance by sharing their personal and professional experiences with the students.  In addition, we as community members, expose these students to professions and job opportunities that they may not otherwise have considered.  And, finally, we tell these students that we were once sitting in their chairs, and we tell them about our journey to success.

My passion is with the Signature Programs in the high schools.  These themed programs engage students in real world experiences, teaching them soft skills that are not always part of the standard curriculum.  The programs encourage the students to be creative thinkers and to emerge from their shell and embrace a future of their own making.  I have worked with Eric Elston, Signature Program Facilitator at Annapolis High School, for over 2 1/2 years, helping him to evolve his Change Engineering Signature Program, connecting community partners, sharing my own journey, and arranging field trips that provide new experiences for the students.  I have watched the students embrace his leadership and these experiences and can see the value that these real-world engagements have on the students.  I have also worked with the other amazing Signature Program Facilitators through supporting mock interviews, judging events, and speaking in student groups and assemblies.  I have engaged non-profits with the schools that can both gain through student and school interaction, as well as give back by providing volunteer opportunities that not only engage the students with their community but also teach them valuable skills.

The point of this story is not only to tell you how much I have enjoyed volunteering with the schools, but to encourage all of you to consider how you can make a difference, how you can enhance an academic experience, and most important, how you can help grow the next generation.

VOLUNTEER WITH THE SCHOOLS — you will love the experience!