UCU News
“You don’t have to write rules about how to make communities better, you just have to understand.”
- Joe Crookham, founder UCU
- Joe Crookham, founder UCU
The 2018 Understanding Community Understanding winners have been selected. Find updates and details here.
2018 Participants:
Mark Viloria of Leander, TX - “It’s Kool to be Kind”
Kindness initiative implemented into area elementary schools.
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
Shakonna Sudds of Shreveport, LA – Understanding JROTC program
Improving awareness of the character-developing benefits of JROTC
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
Nikolas McNeal of Oregon, OH – Bleeding control student education program
Mass trauma training and trauma kits for schools
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
Christine Nguyen of Edmond, OK – State cancer initiative
Legislation and supplies in support for cancer patients
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
Allison Sellers of Temple Terrace, FL – Human trafficking awareness program
Organize awareness of human trafficking in FLA and support of the A21 campaign
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
Gabrielle Henderson of Woodlands, TX – Kindness and charitable awareness community program
Community program to collect yarn, knit hats for babies and distribute them to hospitals and cancer centers
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
Please check back for more information as we update the developments of these important UCU programs. Updates will be noted through our social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Please contact the Four Star Leadership office at [email protected] or call (580) 726-5900 with questions.
Mark Viloria of Leander, TX - “It’s Kool to be Kind”
Kindness initiative implemented into area elementary schools.
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
- Introduced his initiative to two schools.
- Established a point-of-contact with the social emotional learning department to broaden the program to 23 additional schools in the Round Rock Independent School District.
- Began training underclassmen to continue the program after graduation.
Shakonna Sudds of Shreveport, LA – Understanding JROTC program
Improving awareness of the character-developing benefits of JROTC
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
- Began creating awareness of JROTC programs through video alongside student testimonials.
- Highlighted the JROTC programs the Continuous Improvement Project and the Service Learning Project.
Nikolas McNeal of Oregon, OH – Bleeding control student education program
Mass trauma training and trauma kits for schools
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
- Created website for his program.
- Confirmed funding resources.
- Sourced training tools and trauma kits.
- Scheduled training workshops.
- Created a plan to sustain the program after graduation.
Christine Nguyen of Edmond, OK – State cancer initiative
Legislation and supplies in support for cancer patients
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
- Gained recognition as a school organization.
- Established officer team and monthly meetings with 72 current members.
- Weekly workdays have produced blankets, hats and scarves.
- Partnered with Walmart and collaborated with three additional high schools to organize state wide and local knit-a-thon events.
Allison Sellers of Temple Terrace, FL – Human trafficking awareness program
Organize awareness of human trafficking in FLA and support of the A21 campaign
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
- Volunteered at awareness organizations.
- Met with school administration to plan awareness assembly.
- Organized a student volunteer program and an awareness walk.
- Scheduled presentations in schools and civic organizations to encourage community participation.
Gabrielle Henderson of Woodlands, TX – Kindness and charitable awareness community program
Community program to collect yarn, knit hats for babies and distribute them to hospitals and cancer centers
Reported interim progress as of March 1:
- Hugely successful yarn drive involving 14 schools and groups
- Partnered with local restaurant for a “pop-up” and one-day percent-of-sales donation
- Organized knitting workshops producing a large number of hats.
- Instituted testing, tagging and distribution.
- Created website and social media campaign.
Please check back for more information as we update the developments of these important UCU programs. Updates will be noted through our social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Please contact the Four Star Leadership office at [email protected] or call (580) 726-5900 with questions.
