Two BU Sargent College Students Honored as Schweitzer Fellows

(Boston) – The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship (ASF) has announced the 2011-2012 class of Boston Schweitzer Fellows, which include two students from Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. Julia Bantimba and Bethany Patterson, both graduate students in the Occupational Therapy program, will join the group of 25 other Boston graduate students chosen as Schweitzer Fellows. With only 260 chosen nationwide, the students will spend the next year tackling health disparities throughout Greater Boston and developing their leadership skills.

As Schweitzer Fellows, Bantimba and Patterson will work with community-based organizations to create and carry out mentored service projects over the year that will effectively address the health needs of underserved individuals and communities. Julia Bantimba will undertake the issue of the stigma of children with disabilities at the Jackson Mann K-8 School in Boston. She aims to spread knowledge and awareness of children with disabilities to students in kindergarten and first grade, in order to diminish stigma and alleviate fears, and teach children how to positively interact with others with disabilities to facilitate shared play and activities.

Bethany Patterson will partner with the Irving B. Matross Covenant House to help create programming to satisfy the leisure and social participation needs of low-income older adults in Brighton. Her goal is to establish a self-sustaining art instruction program for Covenant House’s residents that will encourage older adults at risk for social isolation to interact with others of different cultures, and ultimately to feel empowered to participate in leadership roles within their community.

After completing their first year, Bantimba and Patterson will become Schweitzer Fellows for Life, joining over 2,000 alumni around the country who are skilled in, and committed to, addressing the health needs of underserved people throughout their careers as professionals.