2008 Woodie Awards
Student Service Corps volunteers service
Terrell Lopez
Issue date: 10/12/07 Section: News
Originally published: 10/11/07 at 6:27 PM EST
Last update: 10/11/07 at 6:26 PM EST
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When people think of community service at Plattsburgh State, students usually describe it as a form of disciplinary action for breaking any rules set by the campus. To many it is seen as an embarrassment to themselves and a hilarious joke to others. But despite the many negative opinions, there are people who enjoy doing community service without being forced to participate.
These students who enjoy giving back and being a part of the community represent the Plattsburgh Student Service Corps, a program that offers students the chance to become active in the community through volunteer service.
"Our main goal as an office of student involvement is to get students involved and get them to become active citizens," Student Service Corps coordinator Dean Delano said. "Therefore when they graduate they have this sense of community and citizenship that they will continue beyond college."
With over 40 members fully active in the program, each member has to make a commitment to complete over 10 hours of community service a week, eventually totaling up to 300 hours of community service that must be met in one academic year.
With so much to be done, members can be assigned a specific site based on their major or career interest. For example, many education majors will volunteer in schools, participating in after-school programs with children.
Even with the constant demands of college life always seeming to take its toll, members of the program still find time to keep their commitment to the program.
"The work is not really demanding because if you really like what you do, then you will always find time to do what you love," Melissa Garcia, a senior and member of the Student Service Corps said.
Putting personal goals aside, the Student Service Corps also participates in community building events such as the Adopt-A-Highway, Adopt-A-Block and Adopt-A-Friend programs.
They also contribute their time to the Salvation Army, Trinity soup kitchens and CVPH blood drives. Other events include the annual Taste Test of the Boston Food Festival, Fright Fest, outdoor recreational activities, and group development and leadership games. The members volunteer a lot of time at these events, in addition to the time they are spending at their site.
These students who enjoy giving back and being a part of the community represent the Plattsburgh Student Service Corps, a program that offers students the chance to become active in the community through volunteer service.
"Our main goal as an office of student involvement is to get students involved and get them to become active citizens," Student Service Corps coordinator Dean Delano said. "Therefore when they graduate they have this sense of community and citizenship that they will continue beyond college."
With over 40 members fully active in the program, each member has to make a commitment to complete over 10 hours of community service a week, eventually totaling up to 300 hours of community service that must be met in one academic year.
With so much to be done, members can be assigned a specific site based on their major or career interest. For example, many education majors will volunteer in schools, participating in after-school programs with children.
Even with the constant demands of college life always seeming to take its toll, members of the program still find time to keep their commitment to the program.
"The work is not really demanding because if you really like what you do, then you will always find time to do what you love," Melissa Garcia, a senior and member of the Student Service Corps said.
Putting personal goals aside, the Student Service Corps also participates in community building events such as the Adopt-A-Highway, Adopt-A-Block and Adopt-A-Friend programs.
They also contribute their time to the Salvation Army, Trinity soup kitchens and CVPH blood drives. Other events include the annual Taste Test of the Boston Food Festival, Fright Fest, outdoor recreational activities, and group development and leadership games. The members volunteer a lot of time at these events, in addition to the time they are spending at their site.
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