A Binghamton University alumna continues to excel by delivering a great service to the children of San Antonio, Texas.
Since graduating and receiving her bachelor’s degree in English in the spring of 2007, Stephanie Holleran has been a member of City Year, working out of Martin Luther King Academy.
City Year is a non-profit AmeriCorps organization where corps members aged 17 to 24 serve the community in 18 cities across the United States or in Johannesburg, South Africa. They are employed for a 10-month term from September to June. Holleran is currently in her second term with City Year, her first as a team leader.
After being rejected by Teach for America, another non-profit organization, Holleran heard about City Year and said she eagerly decided to apply.
“I was planning on going to Houston, Texas, for Teach for America, and the offer from City Year worked out for me,” she said.
Working with the students of her school has been very beneficial, Holleran added.
“The most rewarding experience has been planning large-scale events for the children,” she said.
In November 2008, she organized a Thanksgiving celebration with the students of her school and the students of nearby Randolph Air Force Base Elementary School. Holleran said the event left an impact, since the students who attend Randolph Air Force Base have at least one parent actively serving in the Air Force.
Although Holleran has shone during her two terms for City Year, it has not always been smooth.
While participating in a team-building activity early into her second term, Holleran broke her ankle in two places and had to have surgery. The injury has forced her to take time away from the school, but she still manages to execute all of her responsibilities as a team leader.
“I’ve constantly kept in contact with my team and helped keep the morale up,” she said.
Despite the challenges she faced, her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed.
“Stephanie has tremendously improved her fundraising abilities, project management and communication skills,” said Tramelle Jones, the recruitment manager for City Year in San Antonio.
“In spite of her surgery, she still continues to lead her team,” she said. “It’s something not seen from the average person.”
After she completes her second term with City Year, Holleran plans to apply to the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont to study international education. From there, she wishes to work for a university’s study abroad program.