Head Football Coach Bill Zwaan Receives Civility Award & Professor of Psychology Ellie Brown Receives Service-Learning Teaching Excellence
Award
WCU’s traditional Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, which was hosted virtually today to hundreds of live viewers for the first time in 28 years, was the occasion to honor heroes.
During the ceremony, West Chester University President Chris Fiorentino presented Head Football Coach Bill Zwaan with one of the University’s highest honors --- the prestigious Civility Award. Presented annually, the Civility Award is given to an individual, office, or department nominated for exemplary behavior reflective of civility, community impact, commitment to student success, and collegiality. Since 2016, Coach Zwaan, whose 198 wins are the most among all active Division II coaches, and his siblings have foregone gift-giving during the holidays to be Santa to all homeless and foster youth students at WCU. Coach Zwaan now leads faculty, staff, students, and community partners in a campus-wide labor of love that has raised more than $20,000 in gifts for 40+ WCU students, as well as meals and clothing.
“This year’s recipient has consistently fostered civility and advanced West Chester University’s values during his 18 years of employment with the University,” said President Fiorentino, who makes it a practice not to reveal the winner’s name to attendees until the end of his announcement. “The author of one nomination letter notes that our award winner ‘reaches out to help his students find jobs, counseling, shelter, food, and assistance with medical insurance. He knows that… [these students] are working to pursue an education and opportunities for themselves.’”
One student wrote that Coach Zwaan “…has helped me grow as a man….He gives help in my times of need... He figures out ways to get necessities that I need and he has always been supportive of me.”
Thanks to Coach Zwaan’s efforts during 2019, one nominator shared, “This year, Coach Zwaan collected so much that the Promise Program will have bedding and clothes to offer incoming students [who have need] at next year’s orientation. His charity and efforts continue to touch those who need it the most….”
An image created in the likeness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Richard Blake, former professor of art in the WCU Art Department, will soon be presented to Coach Zwaan, who is currently in his 18th season as head coach of the Golden Rams.
The MLK Celebration was also the perfect occasion to celebrate Professor of Psychology
Ellie Brown for her commitment to developing, implementing, and sustaining courses
that offer quality service-learning to WCU students. Professor Brown was presented
the Service-Learning Teaching Excellence Award and a faculty development stipend of
$500 by Senior Director for the University’s Center for Civic Engagement & Social
Impact Seth Jacobson.
Professor Brown is known widely for her groundbreaking research on how intensive arts programs can positively affect the lives of children experiencing poverty and reduce high-levels of stress. Her research, which is funded through NEA Research: Art Works, has determined that poverty can harm children’s educational, social-emotional, and physical health, in part by damaging the bodily systems that respond to the chronically high levels of stress that children in poverty are more likely to experience.
Professor Brown’s study, Can the Arts Get Under the Skin? Arts Classes and Cortisol Levels for Economically Disadvantaged Preschool Children, has been conducted with Settlement Music School’s Kaleidoscope Preschool Arts Enrichment Program.
“The University is fortunate to have had Dr. Brown join its faculty in 2005, and since her participation in a Service Learning and Diversity workshop in 2006, Dr. Brown has infused her courses with hands-on service learning opportunities,” said Jacobson.
“Ellie’s work is particularly exceptional to the degree that it has been sustaining over the last 15 years, and even with the incredible challenges of the COVID pandemic over this past year, she quickly adapted her work to the new conditions. She also continued to offer support to local children, families, organizations, and for the students offering services,” Jacobson shared in his remarks.
In addition to Coach Zwaan and Professor Brown, two WCU alumni were also recognized during the ceremony for the significant differences they continue to make in the lives of many. Drum Major for Justice honors were awarded to Courtland Bragg ’14 and Deidre Gray ’92. Taken from King’s powerful sermon in Memphis, Tennessee the day before his assassination on April 4, 1968, the distinctive honor reflects King’s wish to be remembered as “…a drum major for peace…a drum major for righteousness.” Learn more about WCU’s 28th MLK Celebration and its 2021 Drum Major for Justice honorees here.
