The Union College Kenney Center
 offers an array of programs for  students
 Download the Kenney Program Brochure

America Reads

America Reads is a Friday afternoon program held from 4:00 - 5:30 pm that provides mentoring, reading, and rebuilding skills for Schenectady youth. A main focus for the club is to instill a love of reading in its participants, by having Union College volunteers meet with young 'reading partners' each week to read and understand new books.

Junior Science Program

Our Junior Science Program is a hands-on science and math program that introduces girls and boys grades 4-6 to the wonders of science and technology. The group meets every Thursday at the Kenney Community Center from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Volunteers help participants conduct small science experiments and learn about various types of technology.

Homework and Skills Development Program

Staffed by Union students, the Homework Program originally received support from Campus Compact and GE Elfun Society volunteers. The program runs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4:00 - 5:30pm. The Homework Center and Skills Development Program links Union student mentors with children from 3 different elementary schools to help them complete their homework successfully. The group also works on math fact drills, reading, and computer activities.

SAIL Program

Third and fourth graders from Elmer Avenue School, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet benefit from the Kenney Community Center's Studying Arithmetic in Literature (SAIL) Program. This math-in-literature program strives to improve students grades on their 4TH grade NYS math tests through tutorials that will allow students to improve their understanding of math word problems by strengthening their reading ability. This program is funded by Schenectady City School district, Union College Community Outreach Department, and the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society Literacy Grant program. Union College students are transported to Elmer Avenue on Tuesday and Thursday, and Yates Magnet School on Monday and Wednesday. The program runs from 3:30 - 4:30pm (volunteers are picked up at the circle at 3:15pm). All tutors are provided with training and reap the benefits of bringing a young learner closer to their goal of being a better reader and thereby improving their math scores. Contact Santos Avila at 388.6609 or at avilas@union.edu

UCARE: Union Community Action Reaching Everyone

UCARE: Located at the Kenney Community Center, UCARE provides students with a link to volunteer opportunities in the community. UCARE also provides students with information on community organizations to assist them in identifying community service opportunities that meet their interest. If you are a member of the Union College community and would like more information on volunteering or to be added to UCARE's database, complete a Student Survey online or at the Kenney Community Center, or request one by calling 388-6777 or emailing ucare@union.edu.

Habitat for Humanity—Union College Chapter

Help the newly formed Habitat for Humanity Chapter build homes and changes lives in the Schenectady area. Volunteers need no prior experience or materials, just an interest in construction and a little time to help out! Work days are generally Wednesdays and Saturdays and go from 9 – 3pm. Groups of 8 – 15 volunteers generally work together on projects ranging from hanging drywall to painting. Contact Santos Avila @ 388.6609 or avilas@union.edu for more information.

Union-Schenectady Empty Bowls Project

Started in 1991, the Empty Bowls Project is an international, grassroots, crafts-based effort to end hunger. It began as what was thought to be a one-time luncheon to raise money for a food drive, and has since resulted in tens-of-millions of dollars raised to alleviate hunger worldwide. Students, potters, and volunteers cast, paint, and donate bowls to the project. An event is held where participants purchase a bowl, receive a simple meal of soup and bread, and take home the empty bowl—the reminder that everywhere people are without adequate food. The Empty Bowls Project of Schenectady is a joint effort between Union College and local organizations to raise money to help fight hunger in our local community. The Empty Bowls event will be held in the Spring of 2010. We need people to help make bowls, reach out to donors, do public relations, line up entertainment, and more!!! Please, join this effort and help us transform peoples’ lives. Contact the Kenney Center at 388.6609 or Don Austin at austind@union.edu

Department of Energy Science Bowl

Help the Kenney Center and the Union College STEP Program prepare for the Science Bowl held on Union College’s Campus Saturday, February 6, 2010. More than 200 high school students from across New York State will come to Union College to compete in this Jeopardy style trivia competition based entirely around fields of Science, Technology, Math and Engineering. We are looking for volunteers to help us organize the event. Contact the Kenney Center at 388.6609 or Don Austin at austind@union.edu

Design your Own Project!

We are always looking for ambitions young minds to design their own service opportunities or projects. Students in the past have developed an arts program at the Kenney Center, taken on a park restoration project, and painted murals on our building. The sky is the limit!