Students f ind ways to
Give Back
S
tudents often express a desire to give back
to the college someday through scholarship
donations. However, many find ways to pay-itforward during their time on campus.
For instance, it’s not uncommon to see puppies
donned in red service vests walking to class with
students. The trend began in 2009 when College of
Education student Logan Bright established a service
dog program at UK.
Bright transferred to UK from Wittenberg
University, where she was familiar with the
organization 4 Paws for Ability, and quickly started
a chapter. Six years later, the UK chapter is thriving.
“A service dog can significantly change someone’s
life. I couldn’t think of a more fun way to help
someone out,” said Luke Nolte, a recent graduate of
the college’s special education (moderate and severe
disabilities) program who trained a dog named Una
for the organization.
Nolte brought Una to the special education
classroom where he completed a practicum.
“It has been really good for Una to be exposed to
children that age, (especially those) with disabilities,
because that is the demographic she will be working
with in the future,” Nolte said. “It was also
beneficial for the students in the class. At first the
students would run up to Una and pet her. Now
they have learned to ask if they can pet Una and
hopefully this will carry over to when they are out
in the community and see a stranger with a dog.”
Student trainers take the dogs everywhere they
go (class, restaurants, mall, library, etc.), and are
required to complete two training sessions per
month. After the dogs are trained and socialized by
UK students, they go through additional training
before they graduate as official service dogs and are
placed with a family.
“It has been really amazing for my students,”
said Gabrielle Bowers, a recent graduate of
the special education (learning and behavior
disorders) program. “I have had my puppies in
training with me at practicums and my student
teaching, and we’ve been able to use the dogs as
behavior incentives and for different purposes in
my classrooms. It’s been really great to watch my
students respond to the puppies.”
4 Paws for Ability places dogs to serve in areas
such as hearing ear dogs, autism assistance dogs
and mobility assistance dogs. The organization
specializes in placements with people who have
been turned away by other agencies, particularly
children.
“When I found out the dogs benefit children with
disabilities, I fell in love with the program and have
been involved ever since,” Bowers said.
To find out more about 4 Paws for Ability, visit
4pawsforability.org. Info about the special education
program at the UK College of Education is available
at education.uky.edu/edsrc. «
UK COLLEGE O