A service-learning project helps L-A College students and the Ware Street Inn.

LEWISTON – Two students at the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College recently completed a service-learning project for a Lewiston business.

The students, Nora Brennan of Topsham and Susan Beane of Denmark, are majoring in the baccalaureate program in leadership and organizational studies.

They were enrolled last semester in integrated software packages, a course that focuses on computer-based report, document presentation and information development functions.

A requirement of the course was the completion of a service-learning project, and when instructor Nancy Whitehouse mentioned the Ware Street Inn project, Nora and Susan jumped right on it.

The inn, which had recently joined USM Corporate Partners/L-A, had a need to examine data as part of a long-range planning process. Owner/operator Jan Barrett said the two students took on a project that consisted at first of merely data and a concept.

“The end result, however, laid a very concrete foundation for the future growth of our business. Nora and Sue took the raw data of two years worth of turned away reservations and produced a spreadsheet, graphs, charts, time-lines, financials and even a power point presentation demonstrating the need for the fulfillment of our goals,” said Barrett. “They did for us what we had the vision for but neither the skills nor the time to do.”

“This project afforded us a wonderful service-learning opportunity and enabled us to apply, in a business setting, the knowledge we had gained in the course,” said Beane. “It was also great to work with a dynamic and energetic woman like Jan. It was a great partnership – we were able to learn and help her business at the same time.”

Anyone interested in more information about service-learning or corporate partners at L-A College is encouraged to call Assistant Dean Roger Philippon at 753-65650.