Coordination of a contest to provide sustainable architectural designs to the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity has earned Gary Azbell, a Macomb Community College professor of architectural design, a Faculty/Staff Community Service-Learning Award from the Michigan Campus Compact.

The compact is a coalition of the state's college and university presidents that seeks to incorporate service learning opportunities into college/university curriculums to help demonstrate to students the importance and benefits of becoming civically engaged.

Azbell received the award for his coordination of a contest for Macomb architectural technology students that involved them in creating original plans for a house that could be incorporated into a Habitat for Humanity development to be built in Warren this year. Habitat for Humanity is an international service organization that relies on volunteers to build modest homes that are sold at cost with low-interest financing to families that could not afford home ownership otherwise. Macomb student Brandon Cook's design took the first place award of $500, and that design, with modifications, will be used for several of the houses to be built in the new development.

"Gary's work with Habitat for Humanity provided a wonderful learning experience and gave our students the chance to see firsthand how big a difference can be made by people working together to help others less fortunate," said Carole Deyer, dean of Arts and Sciences at Macomb, who nominated Azbell for the award. "And, it's a lesson they will remember every time they pass by one of those houses. Because of this, they are going to be more likely to volunteer for community service in the future."

The design contest was funded by a Venture Grant from the compact, as were two other service learning projects at the college, one of which involved Macomb students in the surveying and engineering work for the same Habitat for Humanity's housing development in Warren.

Azbell has taught architectural design at Macomb for 21 years. This is the first year he teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to introduce a service learning component to his classes. But it won't be the last.

"I am just now beginning to prepare students for the next (Habitat for Humanity) contest," acknowledges Azbell. "This year, they have four more feet to work with, and I'm anxious to see what they do."

Media Contact: Mary Smith

Phone: 586.445.7997

Email: smithm@macomb.edu