GIVE Center: by the numbers
A record 77 students and 20 groups at GCSU received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2007 and in total contributed 17,492 hours of community service.
“This gives us a way to monitor the amount of hours volunteered on our campus and gives us a way to recognize and reward those who go above and beyond,” said Kendall Stiles, director of The GIVE Center.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award was created by The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003 as a way to thank those who serve their community. GCSU has been participating in this award for four years.
“This award is given to students who have served over 100 hours in a 12 month period. We really wanted to push students to track their hours and participate in this award,” Stiles said. “It only costs us $3 and it is the most cost effective form of recognition we can give our students.”
Jill Marie Thomas, a senior at GCSU, received this award this past year. She had over 400 hours of community service as a member of the Dance Marathon Executive Committee and as a volunteer with Adopt-A-Grandparent.
“I believe that this is a prestigious award even though many people may not know about it,” Thomas said. “Many students may not understand the depth of what goes into receiving an award like this.”
In April, The GIVE Center hosted its first annual President’s Volunteer Service Award ceremony. Students were treated to a catered meal and received a certificate of service.
“I felt that after all the hard work these students put in, they deserved something nice in return,” Stiles said. “We want to keep this going and make this an annual thing every year.”
The students enjoyed meeting others who shared their interest in volunteering.
“It was great to be with so many people and share stories about the year and the meal they served us was awesome,” said Alissa Torchia, award recipient. “The GIVE Center really made us all feel special.”
Many students who received this award found it difficult to track all of their hours.
“You have to constantly remind yourself to fill out your paper,” Torchia said. “I keep mine in my planner that I carry around with me everywhere. But sometimes you get so caught up in what you’re doing that you forget that what you are doing is actually service and can be counted. You have to be constantly aware.”
The GIVE Center plans to coordinate even more volunteers this year. At the Bobcat Marketplace during the Week Of Welcome, over 100 students signed up to volunteer at the GIVE Center.
“This year I really think that we will see 100 students receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award,” Stiles said. “Students who have accumulated over 100 hours between January 2008 and December 2008 will be eligible to receive this award next year.”
With the large amount of students being recognized for their community service, this trend is bound to continue.
“I really hope that students will continue to give of themselves. It’s amazing the opportunities we have as college students and they only keep growing,” Torchia said. “Service also gives us an opportunity to socialize and have fun while giving college students a positive reputation.”
Stiles believes that there are two reasons that students are so interested in serving.
“I think that overall this generation is a very giving generation,” Stiles said.
“I believe students are seeing more of the benefits to serving, such as building your resume, figuring out what career you want, and the many networking opportunities.”
The GIVE Center has over 90 student-coordinated programs that allow students to serve the Milledgeville community.
“We are provided with numerous opportunities to serve, and I believe that our generation’s mindset is more willing to serve others,” said Thomas. “There is nothing greater than the joy I get from seeing those who I am able to help.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 5 2008. Filed under Features.
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