Issue link: http://tcnj.uberflip.com/i/1532430
25 WINTER 2025 briTTany aydeloTTe '09 Director, TCNJ's Community Engaged Learning Institute TCNJ Bonner alum "As part of our student development as Bonners, we're challenged to think about more than just our local impact," says Brittany Aydelotte '09. National and international service trips are built into the program. The longest-running of these, an annual trip to New Orleans, started in the summer of 2006 to help with rebuilding efforts after the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. Aydelotte was a freshman Bonner when Katrina hit and has participated in TCNJ's New Orleans trip multiple times. "Early on, it was demolition work, removal of debris," she says. Working with local partners, Bonners have done everything from helping lay foundations to framing houses. "I put up a lot of drywall and have done a lot of painting." Almost 20 years out, there is still a need, so the Bonners still go. "That was part of the commitment," says Aydelotte. "Places that have a natural disaster like this get a lot of attention for six months to a year maybe. But the need is much longer than that. So until our partner organizations stop taking volunteers, we're going to keep helping." JessiCa daMansKi '24 TCNJ Bonner alum Created a music therapy program for people with dementia BONNER VOLUNTEER SITE: Meals on Wheels, a national organization that delivers meals to senior citizens PREVIOUS WORK WITH THE ELDERLY: She volunteered at a veterans home in Edison, New Jersey, where seniors listened to music to help improve their memory. LIGHTBULB MOMENT: Many of the participants in Meals on Wheels program had dementia. What if they delivered personalized music playlists with the meals? HOW SHE DID IT: Requested TCNJ funding, bought MP3 players, talked with caregivers about participants' music interests, downloaded music, and dropped MP3s off along with meals. THE PLAYLISTS: A song from a first wedding dance, popular songs from the person's prom, songs the person sang to their children. "Any music to invoke sweet memories." THE FEEDBACK: "Overwhelmingly positive," and caregivers reported the music put the participants at ease. 25 WINTER 2025 Recipient of Damanski's music therapy program