Heather Porriello - 2011 Pratt Award

Heather will graduate in 2011 with a combined Human Services and Criminal Justice degree from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. She completed three co-ops and earned the prestigious Pratt Outstanding Co-op Award.

She completed the following co-ops:

MA-Victim and Witness Program:Administrative Assistant/Intern in the Fall of 2008

Italian Home for Children:Childcare Worker/Residential Counselor in the Fall of 2009

Legal Advocacy & Resource Center: Administrative Assistant in the Fall of 2010

The following is an excerpt from her nomination paper drafted by Nancy Tavares, Co-op Faculty - Criminal Justice:

Heather is the embodiment of all attributes imperative to do this kind of work; i.e., selflessness, commitment, compassion, and a desire to help make a difference for those who are at risk and less fortunate than most. She works tirelessly to contribute to our society and is dedicated to service.

When she spoke about her experiences at the Italian Home, the class was amazed at the amount of work and responsibility she took on. While working at her co-op positions, Heather volunteered at the Elizabeth Stone House (a women’s shelter), the Department of Children and Families as a case reviewer for children in the foster care system and as a tutor for the after school program LEARN, located within the Lenox housing development.

She also participated in an alternate Spring Break in 2009 in Jamaica and in the Dialogues of Civilization in Northern Ireland, again working with children from various backgrounds. Additionally, she has been a Corps member for Jumpstart, teaching inner city children and has recently applied for the AmeriCorps NCCC program.

Page from the awards booklet

Here is Heather's Co-op Award Video