Education Doctoral Students Start Their Program with Service to Veterans

A cohort of 14 students began their doctoral studies in educational leadership at Duquesne by constructing a fleet of wheelchairs for local veterans’ use.

The program is designed to build the cohesiveness of the student team and strengthen their commitment to community service as they undertake the intensive three-year program, said Dr. Connie Moss, director of the School of Education’s Ed.D. in Educational Leadership program.

The doctoral students, who were joined by Moss and some fellow faculty and staff from the Department of Foundations and Leadership, met on July 12 in the main gym of the A.J. Palumbo Center. After being split into three teams, the groups participated in some initial ice-breaking activities that focused on positivity and support, including a multiple-round game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Utilizing a program on an iPad, each team had a limited amount of time in which to complete a variety of tasks—which included taking photos and videos as proof—to first “earn” a wheelchair chassis, and then individual wheelchair parts on a piece-by-piece basis.

Each team was asked to assemble two wheelchairs. When the first team successfully completed its goal, they split up and assisted the two remaining teams until the remaining wheelchairs were assembled.

As a way to test the wheelchairs, each team selected a student to compete in an obstacle course race.

“Building wheelchairs is a metaphor for the leadership relationship,” Moss explained. “The students were able to get to know each other, see that they bring different skills to the team and turn their energy into service. It’s leadership that engages mind, heart and spirit in the moment of action.”

Four of the wheelchairs were donated to the American Legion in Kersey, Pa., to be distributed to veterans, and two were donated to Duquesne and will be stored/used in the Union for the annual Veterans Breakfast and other events.