Oxford's Jenna Petitti Recognized at Service Expo

Eastern Student Jenna Petitti of Oxford Recognized at Service Expo

WILLIMANTIC, CT -- The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) at Eastern Connecticut State University hosted its annual Service Expo and Awards on April 18. The event recognized the many service projects and students who have made a commitment to volunteerism in the Windham area, Eastern's home community.

Among those honored was Jenna Petitti '21 of Oxford, who majors in Pre-Secondary Education Certification and English.

Petitti has been a regular volunteer with the Windham Recovery Center and the North Windham Elementary School recess program.

"Working with an adult population is totally different from what I'm used to," said Petitti of her experience at the recovery center. "It's been an amazing experience. We form connections with the guests that are there, which gives us a new perspective on their part, as well as for them on our part. It's a great way to break down barriers and stigmas between the two groups. We're like one big family."

Petitti's involvement with the CCAR Women's All-Recovery Meeting resulted in it being named "Best New Program" at the expo, as well as the CCAR Problem Gambling program, which received the "Strengthening Communities" award. CCAR was also named "Best Community Event."
Hundreds of Eastern students volunteer thousands of hours in the Windham area every academic year. At the expo, student leaders staffed posters describing more than 50 community programs spanning a variety of causes - working with children in afterschool programs, volunteering at the local homeless shelter, assisting the elderly at a rehabilitation center and more.