Profile Article [draft]

11/28/2009
Getting Involved

As students and alumni of St Mary’s University, how much do we know about the programs that really make a difference around St. Mary’s University? The Service Learning Center has been making a difference in the St. Mary’s community for years. What do they do for the St. Mary’s community as well as the community that surrounds the campus, and how do we sign up for a feel good feeling like helping people thrive?
The Service Learning Center at St. Mary’s University is located behind the Louis J. Blume Library, and is attached to the Counseling and Testing Center. The Service Learning Center is dedicated to improving the community in and around St. Mary’s University, this is proven by their mission statement.
"The Service Learning Center (SLC) helps meet St. Mary's mission of 'extending itself in service to society.' Students respond to today's complex social reality by reaching out to the community, especially the poor, thus integrating the principles of justice and peace inspired by the Gospel values and Catholic social teaching in the Marianist tradition."
The Service Learning Center has many programs for students to get involved with and the first is the RSO or Registered Student Organization. The RSO program offers options on which type of service you feel best fits you. Your choices are, community service, civic engagement, and service learning.
Community service is done through helping the low income community, and trying to improve the quality of life that surrounds them.
Civic engagement entails volunteering, finding a problem with the community at hand, and setting up a panel and try and reach a solution through electoral participation.
Service learning involves students working with the surrounding schools in the community which includes elementary schools, secondary schools, or institution of higher education. Working with the community schools students will be able to enhance the curriculum, and gain a memory of a lifetime. Students who participate in this program are required to write a service reflection paper.
The second program that the Service Learning Center offers is the WINGS program, Workers Invested in kNowledge and Growth through Service (WINGS)
The WINGS program is a work study program that focuses in the areas of education, health care, and legal services in which the student is paired with a member from a non-profit organization. Students must have a 2.75 GPA, and commit to participating in the program for one full year to take part in this program.
Nicole Gilliam, an alumnus of St. Mary’s University, who was very active in the WINGS program reports, “it was the experience of a lifetime, and I gained many social skills that I still use today.”
As you can see, whether you end up participating in these program or not, they play a big role in the St. Mary’s University community.
If you are looking for a feel good project to participate in or donate money to, The St. Mary's University Service Learning Center is just the ticket to improve the quality of life not only in the community, but in yourself as well.