Why do you volunteer?

I always feel better knowing that I have helped someone, even if only in the smallest way.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes. I like to volunteer with kids because they will tell you just how much you have helped them and how excited they are that you are there.

How does it benefit your college education?

I meet all sorts of people that I would not normally meet; making connections that will help me professionally.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Many college students see volunteering as something that just takes up time, but it is so much more than that. Volunteering makes you feel so much better and allows you to reach out to your community and make a difference.

Volunteer affiliations:

GEAR-UP: working with students from smaller school involving technology

Why do you volunteer?

Because it is the right thing to do for the community and my future.

Have you seen or felt an impact from you volunteer work?

Yes, volunteer work has a big impact on how well public school activities are executed.

How does it benefit your college education?

It makes the community a better place to live in and gives me the chance to meet new people.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Become a member of OU Engage at engage.ou.edu

Volunteer affiliations:

•K20 Community Service since Fall 2008
•Norman Public Schools: teaching English to foreign students since January 2009

Why do you volunteer?

It provides an avenue to stay active and give back to my community.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

I have seen an impact both in individuals and in organizations that have needs for service.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering has provided networking opportunities that have introduced me to several organizations and internship opportunities that I would not otherwise have known about.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Take advantage of any opportunity to participate in your community, because it may open doors to even more exciting opportunities.

Volunteer affiliations:

•Heartland Chrysalis: Liaison Committee Chair
•OU Engage: database organization
•K20 Center: education, weather, and energy research assistance
•Winter Institute
•Wesley Foundation: Mission service projects and energy research assistance
•Inter-unit communication: Newsletter Circulation and Youth Ministry (January 2008- present)

Why do you volunteer?

To teach kids to stay out of trouble and keep them on the right track.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, kids tend to stay out of trouble and focus on soccer.

How does it benefit your college education?

I get to experience being a leader of a group.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Show other college students what goes on in certain community service and show them that it’s fun.

Volunteer affiliations:

Police Athletic League: I coach kid’s soccer for eight weeks. We practice once a week and have a game every Saturday.

Why do you volunteer?

Because it gives me pleasure to know that something so simple as volunteering can actually make a direct impact on an individual’s life (in the case of Norman Regional Hospital) and also my community. With this, I am giving back to my community.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes. One time at the hospital, there was a lady who was weeping really hard because one of her family members had dies. I went and hugged her and consoled her. Afterwards she thanked me so much and asked me who I was. She told me it’s people like me who make an impact in this world. Her gratitude made me proud of what I do and see that volunteering can make such an impact.

How does it benefit your college education?

Well, first it definitely helps with my resume. But also since I am a pre-med student, volunteering (especially at the hospital) has increased my person-to-person communication.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Volunteering may sound dull at first but once you volunteer you will be surprised at how much impact you can make in your community. Also it is a good way to build your resume.

Volunteer affiliations:

•Volunteered at Norman Regional Hospital weekly for three years
•K20 Center
•Tutoring at Madison Elementary School

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer because I want to help my community, specifically for younger children and their opportunities to access higher levels of education

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

I haven’t yet, but I hope to be able to help out personally with school next semester!

How does it benefit your college education?

Hopefully, it will open up doors through the networks I’ve volunteered with and allow me opportunities to internship or even a job in the future

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage other college students to become more involved so that they can give back to their community and help other students get the chance to reach higher levels of education and succeed academically.

Volunteer affiliations:

•K20 Center
•Education
•2008-2009

Why do you volunteer?

I really like being able to give back to the community because in a sense the community gives back to you, so it’s a circular process.

Have you seen or felt and impact from your volunteer work?

Yes. It feels like I’ve been given a huge reward after every volunteering opportunity.

How does it benefit your college education?

I got many scholarships from volunteering. I even got President’s Choice Award for “Volunteerism and Leadership” signed by the president. I did over 500 hours from freshman to senior year.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Volunteering is beneficial for you and the community.

Volunteer affiliations:

•Moore nursing: 9-10 am random Saturdays
•Salvation army: too many events to name
•Volunteer at St. Anthony’s almost everyday during summer

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer to help the community to become a better place. I realize how important and influential some of these activities could be for younger students and their future.

Have you seen or felt and impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, volunteering in different activities helps me to feel better about myself. I feel responsible to the community and volunteer activities are a great way for me to give back to the society.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering opportunities help me to meet many people involved in the careers that I am considering in my future. Also, it helps me to realize what careers I really want to do for my future.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Community service activities are great ways to get involved in the community, as well as meeting new people.

Volunteer affiliations:

•SeeS: Introducing engineering concepts to elementary students
•Gear Up: Encouraging elementary and middle school students for attending college

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer primarily to gain experience with various types of “work-place” situations. Also, I would like to learn different ways to help out the community.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

By working at the OU Research and Performance Day, I noticed that my comments and feedback to the students helped enhance their understanding and interest in the applied sciences.

How does it benefit your college education?

This work benefits my college education by giving me more experience with the public. I then subsequently applied this experience to my thought processes when studying, so that these studies will be more beneficial in the long-run.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage other college students to actively search for volunteer and support opportunities that both personally interest them, and benefit the community. Specifically, either take a relevant class that has a service learning component, or join an interesting organization that facilitates community service.

Volunteer affiliations:

•K20 Center: Weatherfest- helped with children’s activities
•OU Research and Performance Day: panelist for student projects
•Volunteer for one academic year so far

Why do you volunteer?

I love getting to work with the kids and seeing them learn. It is awesome when I suggest an idea and then see them take off with the idea and turn it into something else. Volunteering is also a good resume builder.

Have you seen or felt and impact from your volunteer work?

I have seen many kids get excited about engineering

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering is a great resume builder and can really set me apart from others.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Encourage them that giving back to your community is a great thing to do and show how it can separate them from their peers when it comes to resume building.

Volunteer Affiliations :

•SeeS (Sooner Elementary Engineering and Science)
•Help local elementary schools in teaching kids about engineering through special projects

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer because I’ve always been taught to help others. Because of that, I see volunteering as a good habit, a hobby I enjoy doing on a weekly basis. It is fulfilling to do something out of passion and not for pay or requirement.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes! I may not always see the impact immediately, but people are always appreciative of the gift of time and volunteerism. When my peers see how I contribute to my community while having fun, they are inspired to find their volunteerism passion. Volunteerism is the hope for the world.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering teaches us lessons we cannot learn through books. Lessons of cooperation, people skills and ways to prioritize help us outside the academic aspect and prepare us for the adult world with responsibilities and diverse situations.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Many college students would volunteer if they knew how to make it fun! I try my best to encourage my peers to give back to the community by keeping them up to date with the volunteer opportunities and what I enjoy doing. Until they know their volunteer options, they cannot discover for themselves whether or not they are passionate about a specific volunteer group. Once they find that “niche” they will be addicted to volunteering!

Volunteer Affiliations :

•President’s Community Scholars- various activities i.e. Arbor Day
•Second Chance Animal Sanctuary- 5 hours
•Madison Elementary- tutoring on Fridays 10 + hours
•Cleveland Elementary- Respect Education 10 + hours
•Church- Alter server every Saturday since 2000

Why do you volunteer?

Enjoy helping kids understand science

How does it benefit your college education?

Opens my eyes, broadens my horizons

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

A lot of students have plenty of free time, why not help others.

Volunteer Affiliations :

SEES,

PCS (volunteer two hours a Monday, two Mondays a month, second semester)

Why do you volunteer?

I like helping people. Helping has been a part of my life since I was little. My mom always helped people and taught me to help people also.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes! My volunteer work has inspired others in my high school to volunteer. I should a community service club in my high school and students who haven’t volunteered and still in it.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering reminds me not to be selfish in all parts of my life, including college life. I have been able to remain humble and not selfish.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I encourage people by being an example.

Volunteer Affiliations :

The Big Event- went to a church and painted fences,

Sooners for Christ- arts and crafts with kids at the children’s hospital,

LunaFest- sold refreshments at a film festival,

Norman Music Festival- sell bracelets to buy beer.

Why do you volunteer?

I love being around people and getting to help them with anything whether it big or small. At the end of the day what makes me the happiest is seeing a smile on someone’s face. It lets me know I made on impact on their life in some shape or fashion.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Volunteering has made an impact on my life by helping me in the decision of my major. I hope to one day become a physician’s assistant. I will be getting to do one of the things I love the most which is helping out others on a daily basis.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering helps you become a well handed person and also more of a “people person.” Because you will be interacting with people of all age groups in any type of service work you do. These two skills can also be applied in any profession you choose.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By telling them of all the special awards they can obtain through volunteering such as meeting new people and making new friendships and the most special of them are the feeling you made a positive impact on someone’s life.

Volunteer Affiliations :

• President’s Community Scholars- Adopt a Child and The Big Event where went to church in Oklahoma City and painted and cleaned out one of their vacant rooms for use.
•K-20 Center- helped middle school students with an activity around campus (participated in it twice) and helped with Winter Institute
•Pride of Oklahoma- volunteered to be a part of the Bowling and Cooch’s pep bands during football season (the night before the game), helped with the band sorority with a workshop for Girl Scouts to help them receive their music badge.
•Over Christmas break- volunteered at my mother’s school. I helped elementary students with their reading (about 20 hours off and on, one week during Christmas break)

Why do you volunteer?

Volunteering has made me connect with my community by impacting lives that need them the most.

Have you seen or felt and impact from your volunteer work?

I felt the impact while volunteering at Santé Fe High School seeing the faces of young students feel like they deserve everything.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering makes my leadership skills grow expand and become a better leader.

How would you encourage other students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage them to try service activities they enjoy the most. I believe every person has a passion for doing it just finding which one you enjoy doing the most.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Christmas Connection,

Feed the Children,

East Main Place,

Presidents Community Scholars,

Santé Fe High School

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer to give back to my community. There are so many things around the campus that need help replenishing and I want the future area of Oklahoma to stay beautiful.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Absolutely, working with other volunteers is the best gift; people are always so grateful for work that they need done. Working with Dance Marathon I got to adopt a child with cancer and see her face light up when she saw us working for her.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering benefits my college education by allowing me to think of others and make a difference while I’m here. It just makes our experience so much better.

How would you encourage other college student to become involved in community service?

I would encourage other students by showing them what we do- and what better way than to bring them along for the experience!

Volunteer Affiliations :

PCS,

Arbor Day-planting trees,

Big Event, and other community activities.

The Big Event- community service day for OU.

Dance Marathon for Children’s Miracle Network- fundraiser for CMN.

Service for Sight- volunteer for Rambling Oaks home.

Why do you volunteer?

To help better the community and try and make a difference

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes when I worked for H for H we helped build a house that was damaged during the ice storm. Also working with Pennies for Peace we helped raise money to build a school, which helped spread education.

How does it benefit your college education?

It gives me a sense of fulfillment and helps me balance education with service.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By taking them to more exciting service events and making sure they realize that their help is appreciated.

Volunteer Affiliations:

American Red Cross,

Oklahoma Blood Institute,

Pennies for Peace,

Habitat for Humanity,

St. Jude Children’s Hospital,

President’s Community Scholars,

MEP and MSA.

Why do you volunteer?

I enjoy empowering others with information on skills to better themselves. I desire to help others as other individuals helped me.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

I have not seen an impact of my work however; I feel that as long as my heart is in what I do, I impacted someone.

How does it benefit your college education?

I desire to be a doctor and by volunteering I can better learn to dote for people, volunteering helps me to understand how I can use my skills to help my community.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage others by giving personal examples of my own life experience. Share the importance of motivating others and how one can change another’s life through volunteering.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Meals on Wheels,

Sleep Out for the Homeless,

Big Event,

President’s Community Scholars

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer because the community is very important to me and I enjoy giving back to help better it.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, I believe when I volunteer the feeling it gives me is priceless and there’s nothing like it.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering helps my college education because it teaches responsibility, leadership, dependability and organization; which are qualities that will be used throughout my life.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By reaching out and providing information about volunteer opportunities that are available so students are aware of what they can be doing to help others.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Sooner Scouts,

The Capelables,

Big Event,

I am involved with either community service programs or prospective student programs.

Why do you volunteer?

To be able to give back to the community. to be able to stay involved and know you can make a difference by helping others.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, I work every Thursday at Health for Friends. I love being able to build a relationship with the patients and seeing the smile on their faces. Their whole day can be so much better with just your help.

How does it benefit your college education?

My major is pre-pharmacy, so helping other people while gaining experience in my major is awesome.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Inform them of every opportunity, and eventually they will find something that will affect them or something they love. Once you get involved , you can’t stop. You just have to get started.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Health for Friends,

Manos Juanitas,

Arbor Day,

Sooner Saturday

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer because I love helping others. I don’t think there is a better feeling in the world then helping others when you have the ability and resources to do it. I love getting to know people and hearing their stories and sharing my own.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Every time I volunteer I feel and see the impact of my work. Especially when I volunteer at my favorite place, Safety Town. I can’t help but smile and the end of the week when a kids comes up to me and goes, “I did it! I can ride a bike now thanks!” Seeing that I can make an impact in the community makes me think that anyone could help out, even it its one small child at a time.

How does it benefit your college education?

I think that because of volunteering so much prior to college. I think it is good volunteering in college, not only because volunteering is good, but because it helps you learn to manage doing school work and still making that impact on campus or in Norman that you want too.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage other college students to become involved in community service by telling my stories and making sure they know how much fun it can be! I love sharing pictures of the things I have done, and community service can take to so many places like I have been.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Safety Town,

Center for Student Mission – mission trips to Las Vegas, Seattle, New York City and New Zealand, every summer in July.

Why do you volunteer?

I truly enjoy helping people any way I can. Giving up a few hours of my day to help better the community is the least I can do because in my life I have been very blessed.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

When I used to participate in mission trips in high school, I got to really see the impact we were making directly. Now when I volunteer, I might not get to see the impact I am making first hand but I know that its influencing someone else for the better.

How does it benefit your college education?

I’ve been given this great opportunity to go to college. Not everyone is as lucky. I want to do something meaningful with my four years here.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

There are tons of opportunities everywhere, some that I even haven’t taken advantage of. Check out the OU PCS web site, it is full of ways to help. You don’t have to give up tons of your time, there’s great ways to help with only giving up ;ole 2-3 hours of your Saturday.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Sooner Saturday,

Relay for Life,

Angel Tree at Christmas time,

Race for Cure in OKC,

Big Event

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer because I am blessed and I feel called to give back to those around me. I get an overwhelming feeling of fulfillment when I help someone who needs help. I believe that those who should have should give. If I keep everything to myself, what is the point of having it? I also find joy in giving to those around me. God has blessed me with a heart that loves to give back.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, I have definitely felt and seen an impact from my volunteer work. In Harlingen over spring break, for example, I saw people who did not have much food be given food from our efforts. I have also seen the simple joy in those that I have helped, and they do not expect anything but when they are served they are honored and filled with joy. Nothing compares to seeing your efforts pay off.

How does it benefit your college education?

It benefits my college education by giving me something to focus on other than school all of the time, as well as making me stand out from other students.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage other students to find a community service activity that seems interesting to them. They need to step out of their own little box and see what others deal with and learn that even if a job doesn’t sound fun, it can be very fulfilling.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,
Bethel Baptist Church Sunday School Teacher, Roosevelt Elementary School – assist in classroom on second grade teacher,
Way of the Cross Ministries – helped the people of Harlingen,
Texas and surrounding areas, Big Event

Why do you volunteer?

I love helping people and making others smile and laugh.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, the children I work with have made such a huge impact on my life. I can be having the worst day of my life and they make me smile.

How does it benefit your college education?

I want to work for an agency later in life that have bad home lives, so anything with children helps.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Do as much as you can, we are so blessed to be in college so anything you can do to give back to the community is so worth it.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Community After School Program (CAMP),

Volunteer Turnkey for Children

Why do you volunteer?

I like helping others because when I know that I’ve done something good in another person’s life it gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

When I volunteered as a small group leader for Jr. High aged girls at my church, I could tell they really looked up to me as an example and for advice. It was a great a feeling to know that I was a help.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering benefits my college education by giving me opportunities to develop leadership experience.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By telling them that the benefits include a feeling of accomplishment and you feel so rewarded after you help people.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Adopt a Child – community service,

Christmas train at Church on the Move – food distributor

Why do you volunteer?

I like giving back to the community and helping others. Seeing how much impact I can make is really awarding.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, every time I volunteer I try to find something positive to get out of it.

How does it benefit your college education?

It makes more aware and prepared for the real world.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

To find an area that interests them and research how they can do service and make an impact in that area.

Volunteer Affiliations:

St Jude – Delta Delta Delta;

Pancake breakfast and letter writing campaign;

Second Chance Animal Shelter;

Elementary School Carnivals,

Presidents Community Scholars

Why do you volunteer?

I think that it is important to give back to the community and I find it rewarding.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes,working with kids and seeing them be impacted in positive ways.

How does it benefit your college education?

It helps to become more involved.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By starting early and being involved with friends. It’s fun that way!

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

my church New Heights Baptist Church,

my sorority Alpha Gamma Delta

Why do you volunteer?

I enjoy giving back and contributing to the betterment of the community and people involved in it.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, every time I participate in volunteer work I know I’m doing something that is helpful and appreciated in the lives benefitting from the work.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering has not only allowed me to be involved, but has made me meet many new people.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage them to sign up and apply for many different organizations.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Big event, Adopt a Child,

Dance Marathon for Children’s Miracle Network,

Kappa Alpha Theta Pancake Party benefitting Crossroads Youth and Family Services;

5k Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) run

Why do you volunteer?

I want to help the community and I love giving back to the community as well.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, I feel like I’m making a difference in the community around me and I’m having fun while I’m at it.

How does it benefit your college education?

It benefits my college education by being a part of a group and working together to better our community.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would tell them how much it benefits my life and the experiences are priceless. Giving back is a great joy to have and everyone should have the opportunity to do so.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,

Delta Delta Delta Sorority,

philanthropy events for St. Jude’s Childrens Hosptial

Why do you volunteer?

I enjoy helping those in need and the communities.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, because I know that I have helped in making the communities better.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering has allowed me to get more involved on campus.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Doing it with friends.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars

Why do you volunteer?

Because I love helping people! And its fun!

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, of course! I really feel like I’m making a difference in the community even though I am only one person.

How does it benefit your college education?

Makes me feel good and is rewarding. Looks good on my resume, in enlightening.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Tell them it’s a great way to meet new people and is a lot of fun. Who wouldn’t?

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars,
Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Sooner Saturday
AASA,
VSA

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer to make a difference in individual’s lives. Also I see it as a faith based duty.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, the smiles on the faces of church goers and the enormous growth my church has had lets me know I’m making an impact.

How does it benefit your college education?

It teaches me how to talk to people and organize events and how to manage my time.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I’d tell them about all the positive influences and benefits it can have on their lives.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Lifechurch.tv, Sunday Service volunteer, video team volunteer
Presidents Community Scholars

Why do you volunteer?

It’s something that makes me feel good. I enjoy helping.

How does it benefit your college education?

It has bettered my college experience.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By showing them how much fun it is.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars

Why do you volunteer?

I volunteer because my passion is helping but specifically children. I love giving back to my community.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

I feel a sense of accomplishment as I help the community through service.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering gives me a chance to get away from school and so something that others will benefit from.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage them to volunteer because it gives them a chance to lend a helping hand, and they never know whose life they might impact,

Volunteer Affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars
Down Syndrome Walk – help down syndrome kids to have days completely devoted to them.
Help the norman community.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Get involved in something that you car deeply for.

Volunteer affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars, Community Service

Why do you volunteer?

Volunteering allows you to become connected with the community on and off campus. It serves as a reminder to myself that everyone is important.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, not only have I seen the impact from the thankful people I help, but I am refreshed by the joy of others I interact with.

How does it benefit your college education?

I am able to grow as a person in society as well as a student.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

By setting an example with service and actively encouraging others to participate in community service.

Volunteer affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars – Big Event, Chocolate Festival, American Indian

Student Association – volunteer efforts at school festivals, Wesley Center – mission work, tornado relief

Why do you volunteer?

I like giving back to the community around me. In the case of the University of Oklahoma, I feel as though I’ve been given a tremendous amount of gifts while here, and one way I can repay these gifts is through my service.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

At Big Brothers Big Sisters, I see my impact weekly as I get the opportunity to mentor a student who simply loves to spend time with me each week. I get the opportunity to show him how life after high school can be attainable, and he reminds me of my childhood and exactly how important mentoring the youth of America can be.

How does it benefit your college education?

It diversifies my education. As an engineer, I could easily bury myself in labs, data, and research, but taking service roles helps me to learn some things that I can’t simply learn in a classroom. In a classroom, I’d never get the chance to plant a tree for Arbor Day or help in an elementary school classroom. I’d never get the opportunity to mentor youth or even work on relief efforts in my community. These efforts benefit me by making me a well-rounded person who has learned to care for the world and people around me.

How would encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage them to try service activities and see which ones they love. I believe every person has a passion for service, but they need to find the position and effort that fits their personalities best. Once you find what you love, service becomes something you can love doing each time you participate within it.

Volunteer affiliations:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland County School Based Program
3 Years

Leadership Development & Volunteerism, Volunteer Efforts (Arbor Day, Rake-It-Up), 3 Years

Why do you volunteer?

I did a lot of community service in high school and find it very enjoyable to give back and better the community

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

The work I do with Chi Alpha is very interactive so I get to see how if affects people every week.

How does it benefit your college education?

PCS gives me a scholarship and I really like attending and helping Chi Alpha. Also I have made great friends in both groups.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

It is a very rewarding, a good way to meet awesome people, and a way to feel better about your self and your community.

Volunteer affiliations:

Presidents Community Scholars

Chi Alpha Campus Ministries

Click here for the newsletter!

Why do you volunteer?

Volunteering is a great way to meet other people and it is always appreciated. It also is very self rewarding.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Yes, very much! Every time I volunteer I can tell the extra help is very needed either for an organization or someone personally.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering has made me make an effort to be much more organized, and use time wisely which has a whole new meaning in college!

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I encourage this for the reasons I answered each of the other questions! It’s a great way to get outside of your box and help people on the way

Volunteer Affiliations:

Relay for Llife

World Neighbors

Chocolate Festival

Presidents Community Scholars

Why do you volunteer?

The reason that I volunteer is to give back to the community.  My favorite type of volunteering is with young children with BBBS or Operation Smile, Children’s Miracle Network because I want to have a positive impact on these children’s lives and  help them continue reaching for the stars and conquering their goals!

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

Absolutely.  The experience is beneficial and impacts me because I know that my volunteer work is contributing to someone or something who is in need of help, and being able to see the effect of what we are doing has on other people.

How does it benefit your college education?

It exposes me to more than just ‘the college life’ and keeps me involved within my community.  It also gives me a chance to give back to the community.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

I would encourage everyone on campus by advertising community service through flyers, or side walk chalking.

Volunteer Affiliations:

Big Brother, Big Sister

Big Event

Children’s Miracle Network

Relay 4 Life

Operation Smile “Miracle Minuete”

Why do you volunteer?

Time is precious resource and volunteering is one of the most beneficial ways to share that resource. It provides much needed aid to organizations developing a mutually beneficial relationship between the volunteer and the service site.

Have you seen or felt an impact from your volunteer work?

The impacts of volunteering are as small as seeing an appreciative smile on a person’s face or as large as watching 5000 OU students volunteer in the local community.

How does it benefit your college education?

Volunteering provides leadership and learning outside of the classroom.

How would you encourage other college students to become involved in community service?

Most importantly, students need to recognize the importance of volunteering.  Service learning provides students the opportunity to take learning outside of the classroom and impact the community at the same time.  The trick is to get them hooked, once they find a project they enjoy- they’ll keep coming back!

Volunteer affiliations:

The University of Oklahoma’s Big Event Executive Committee (organizing OU’s Official Day of community service) (2 years)

Oklahoma Blood Institute Student Leadership Panel (1 year term)

American Cancer Society Relay for Life Committee Member & Team Captain (4+ years)

Civic-minded college students may apply for the Frank Newman Leadership Award through the Oklahoma Campus Compact program. The program provides two cash awards of $5,000, but students must apply by March 21.

Read the full story from the Norman Transcript.

Are you involved in scholarship with community partners? Would you benefit from mentoring and networking with other engaged scholars?

Advanced graduate students and junior faculty members are encouraged to apply for the Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop (EESW), which takes place in conjunction with the National Outreach Scholarship Conference (NOSC) at the University of Georgia September 27 – 30, 2009. Sponsors of the workshop include the University of Georgia, the partner institutions of the NOSC, and the National Center for the Study of University Engagement (NCSUE) at Michigan State University

The workshop includes presentations from national engaged scholarship leaders and community partners, seminars focused on the literature and theory around engaged scholarship, master classes on the scholarship of engagement and working with community partners; small group mentoring sessions, and professional development seminars on publishing engaged scholarship, and methodological considerations for community-engaged research. Participants submit a research prospectus and receive specific feedback and mentoring designed to strengthen their proposal.

Participation is limited and will be determined by a competitive selection process. Participants must submit a research prospectus and be nominated. Go to http://ncsue.msu.edu/eesw.aspx to download the nomination packet. Applications are due March 2, 2009.

Twenty scholars will be selected. They commit to participating in the Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop and the larger NOSC from Sunday, September 27 through Wednesday, September 30. The scholars receive a scholarship of $395 to cover the cost of the NOSC registration. Participants will pay a $100 registration fee for the Emerging Scholars Workshop. All meals during the EESW and the NOSC are provided as part of the registration fees.

Participants outside the Athens area (those who are not driving in) will fly to Atlanta (by noon on Sunday, September 27), and a shuttle will take them to Athens. All meals are provided as part of the registration fees. Travel and lodging expenses are covered by the participant and/or his home institution. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Tami Moore (tamimoore@wsu.edu, or 509-339-3816).

“Educating Youth for Citizenship: East and West” is an international conference addressing issues in citizenship education to be held in Beijing, China on 1-3 June 2009. Hosted by Beijing Normal University School of Education and the College of Education at New Mexico State University, the Conference is co-sponsored by the United States-China J. William Fulbright Program in conjunction with the Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the Confucius Institute of New Mexico State University. The English language conference website is at http://citizen-09.nmsu.edu

Proposals for papers are due on 28 February. Participants are invited to present proposals for addressing one of the four conference themes:

• Parenting: Beginning the Civic Education Process
• Schooling: Redefining Civic Education Instruction by Constructing a
  Middle Way Between State Direction and Individualism
• Institutions: Developing a Friendly Environment for Civic Education
  Between Schools and Communities
• Society: The Scholar’s Role in Developing a Healthy Civic Society

Full instructions for submitting papers can be found at

http://citizen-09.nmsu.edu/CallForPapers.html

Email English language proposals to: civiced@nmsu.edu or fax to 011-575-646-4767

Recently, the  K20 Center’s Quyen Arana spoke on a congressional panel about service learning and Engage.ou.edu.

Click here to go to NewsOK for the full story.

Download a PDF of Quyen’s Presentation

Follow along in with Quyen’s PowerPoint

Imagine walking several miles a day carrying two buckets of water from the local spring just to take care of that day’s needs. Now imagine more than 20 people trekking that same path everyday. That was life for the many of the residents of the small Guatemalan village La Pradera del Quetzal until the University of Oklahoma’s Engineer Without Borders student chapter embarked on water project that would not only improve their quality of life, but also strengthen their community.

EWB-OU members Tom Kunkle, industrial engineering senior, and Yonatan Reches, civil engineering junior, recently spoke of their international experiences and the organization as part of OU’s community engagement committee’s monthly project highlight.

Water Works
Last August, Reches, EWB-OU president, along with several other OU engineering students, traveled to La Pradera del Quetzal to build a water distribution system that would save travel time and provide a sanitary water source.

The group partnered with the village to construct a basic water infrastructure system leading water from a spring box a few hundred yards outside the village to a central location near a medical clinic church and future school site.

When EWB-OU asked the village president for manpower, the president estimated six or seven local men would commit time to the project.

“The next day, 40 men and one woman showed up: 80 percent of the households,” said Reches. “It really showed us how excited the community was and how they took a sense of ownership of the project.”

Reches reported the group finished the project ahead of schedule.

On the next international trip, EWB-OU is returning to La Pradera del Quetzal to build a foundation for a large schoolhouse that will also serve as a community center.

Engineers Without Borders
EWB – USA is a nonprofit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide to improve their quality of life. The student chapter involves implementing sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineering students.

EWB-USA began in 2001 when a group of students from the University of Colorado completed a water project in San Pablo, Belize. The project, joining faculty, students and the San Pablo community to work together, was successful and became the model for EWB. OU’s EWB chapter formed in the fall of 2005.

“We go to communities and find what we can do for them by asking them what they need, not as a separate organization but as a partner with the community,” said Kunkle. “That is what makes us stand out from different organizations.”

Breaking Down Myths
One common misconception about EWB projects is that they are all in remote mountain villages, thousands of miles away. While Norman may not have to worry about running water or electricity, communities around the world share universal issues, according to Kunkle.

“There are aspects of the communities we’ve experienced in South America that greatly reflect the problems that are inside some of our own communities,” he said.

“We tried to recognize some of those issues and use our expertise that we gained from doing international projects to pass along to communities right around us.”

Kunkle said EWB-OU members participate in Sooner Elementary Engineering and Science Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, the Big Event and such environmental issues as the water quality in Lake Thunderbird.

Another common misconception about EWB is that it is only for engineer majors. The organization encourages students with different expertise and backgrounds to join.

“Whether your expertise is in social science, political science, economics, or just speak a foreign language, I would encourage students to learn more about EWB-OU,” said Kunkle. We don’t want to be a narrowly focused organization; we want to encourage the broader community to get involved.”

The EWB-OU chapter meets at 7 p.m. every other Monday in the Carson Engineering Center at OU. For more information about the program or meeting times, go to coecs.ou.edu/ewb or e-mail ewb@ou.edu.

• NWC open house
• Childrens Activities
• Weather balloon launch
• Storm chaser car show