Field Study Senior Program Coordinator Lizet Ceja holds the Agency Partner of the Year Award presented to the School of Social Ecology by the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach. From left are Career Services and Field Study Program Director Dmitry Tsukerman and Boys & Girls Club Development and Volunteer Coordinator Steven Sliwoski.
Laguna Beach’s youth say “thank you” for field study students bridging the gap between social research and social good
The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach recently honored the School of Social Ecology with its Agency Partner of the Year Award.
Dmitry Tsukerman, director of the Career Services and Field Study Program, and Lizet Ceja, senior program coordinator, accepted the award at the Community Partners Breakfast held Feb. 26 at the Boys & Girls Club’s Laguna Canyon Road facility.
In the past two years the School of Social Ecology has been partners with the nonprofit organization that serves youth in Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo. So far, 33 students from the School of Social Ecology have successfully completed their field studies at the Boys & Girls Club. These interns support club programming in a hands-on, meaningful way, from modeling social skills in play spaces to assisting children with homework in the education technology room.
Through their placements, students develop invaluable professional skills including patience, communication, leadership, and teamwork, all while learning to engage and connect with kids in age-appropriate and encouraging ways. Interns consistently describe the club’s staff as welcoming, supportive and excellent role models who create an environment where students feel comfortable, confident and part of the team. Beyond the academic and professional growth, many interns leave with lasting personal connections and a genuine love for the work, with some even returning or pursuing employment opportunities with the club after completing their placements.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as Agency of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach — it speaks volumes about the genuine commitment our UC Irvine Social Ecology student interns bring to the community,” Tsukerman says. “Their volunteer coordinator, Steven Sliwoski, is an absolute pleasure to work with and plays a huge role in making our students feel welcomed and supported from day one. The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach does truly inspiring work for local youth, and we are honored to play even a small part in their mission.”
— Matt Coker