Students on the University of Louisville's campus are learning the benefits of community service by working on various projects as individual students, groups or as a class. Students gain valuable skills and develop an understanding of the world that cannot be learned in any classroom. The Service Learning Program acts as a liaison between students who want to participate in community service and organizations that need them. The office also works with professors at U of L to integrate service learning into their curriculum.

According to Kim K. Johnson, Coordinator of the Service Learning Program, college student participation in service learning is on the rise. In addition to students who participate in U of L's recognized student organizations (many who perform service), many other groups of students participate in community service, such as the Honors Volunteer Program and a residence hall floor on campus (known as MOVES), which is dedicated to doing service throughout the fall and spring semesters. Students say that doing community service has given them greater understanding of our community's needs and an appreciation of people and their struggles. It is also a way to get students out of their "comfort zones" to learn about and experience the real issues faced by many in terms of education and diversity. In many cases, students have changed their majors or discovered their majors as a result of the service they performed.

The Service Learning Office, located in room #318 of the Student Activities Center, is involved in these two services, among many others. One is the America Reads Program, a Federal initiative that sponsors college students to serve as reading tutors for at-risk children in the local community. The goal is to have every child read on grade level by the end of the third grade. The second service is the Anticorp Bonner Leader Program, which gives students an opportunity to complete 300 service hours in a calendar year. Upon completion, they receive a $1,000 Education Award. Students work at non-profits that focus on literacy, violence against women, and provide resources to improve family life. Students eligible for Federal work-study who tutor in the America Reads program may also enroll in the Bonner Leader program and receive the stipend when they complete 300 hours of workstudy.

Melissa Porter, a junior History/Anthropology major from Frankfort, Ky., and Tiondra Willingham, a senior Communications major from Louisville, are both participants in the America Reads Program. When asked by MAEP how community service has helped in their matriculation and soon-to-be graduation, Porter says, "In the future I plan to continue my volunteering as a tutor for children. I am also using this program as experience because in the future I want to design a history program especially for children to get them involved in learning certain aspects of ancient civilizations." Willingham says that "This program has piqued my interest in public works and community service projects."

Advice to other students who may be considering volunteer service in the community:

[Willingham]: "Don't hesitate or make excusesstart now. The social and emotional rewards are far greater than any part-time job. No matter what, always take the time to serve others. Not only does the student benefit by participating in service learning opportunities but the educator and employer also benefit.

For a list of other service learning opportunities, go to the Service Learning web site at http://campuslife.louisville.edu/service * or email Kim Johnson at kkjohn01@gwise.louisville.edu

From the MAEP Spring 2005 Newsletter
Reprinted by permission.