Administration

Communications

C-SC’s “Business Ethics” class gives back
Monday, May 24, 2010

CANTON, Mo. – The “Business Ethics” course took a different approach to the traditional classroom experience during the 3-week term this semester at Culver-Stockton College.

“I wanted to try something a little different this semester for a class that I have taught for many years and the new curriculum at C-SC allowed me to do this because of the 3-week term,” said James Cosgrove, C-SC professor of business administration and instructor of the course. “I wanted to connect business ethics to the idea of giving back to the community while giving students a truly unique experience.”

With the help of C-SC alum, Mike Snell, Cosgrove was able to set up a mission trip to Mexico through Project Berea, which supports mission work in Mexico in conjunction with the Instituto Biblico Berea in Los Cristales, Mexico.

Many students wanted to take the “Business Ethics” class, but were unable to travel to Mexico. Instead these students did service work in the Canton and Quincy areas. C-SC students who were not able to travel to Mexico volunteered at Immanuel United Methodist Church with the Buddy Pack Program, Quincy, Ill.; Salvation Army, Quincy, Ill.; Horizons Soup Kitchen of Adams County, Quincy, Ill.; Canton Christian Church, Canton, Mo.; Lewis County Nursing Home, Canton, Mo.; and the YMCA, Quincy, Ill.

“What I learned most from this out of the classroom experience while working at the Canton Christian Church, was how grateful and thankful people are for your services,” said Nicko Garibay, senior business major from Stockton, Calif. “The help that I gave the church seemed very insignificant due to the small task that I had. But to the church it was a blessing. And to the people that it helped it was even a bigger blessing.”

While in Mexico students painted, gave out food baskets, and mixed concrete, all while experiencing Mexican culture. The students also visited two Mexican companies and were able to sight see in Monterrey, Mexico.

“My Ethics class was able to combine a study of ethics with service work and visit some companies in Mexico,” added Cosgrove. “The students experienced the satisfaction of serving others and received great comments from others while doing their service work.”

“Not everyone gets the opportunity to make an impact on another’s life,” said Dustin Boyd, senior business major from St. Peters, Mo. “With Project Berea it gives you the perfect opportunity to get hands on experience and begin to learn about another country’s culture. For me the best part was meeting people, providing a service for them and seeing how much it means to them is priceless.”