Serve Together, Learn Together
By Jill Houseknecht ('08) and Katie Sullivan (‘07)

S.E.R.V.E., which is an acronym for Students Engaged in Reflective Volunteer Experiences, is one of many service opportunities available to King's students.

Katie Sullivan, a sophomore, was apprehensive about her first S.E.R.V.E. trip to Phoenix , Arizona . On an airplane for the first time, among a group of people she barely knew, Katie feared she would regret it. However, after a week of doing laundry, cooking meals and distributing clothes—all for about 400 people--she reflected on her eye-opening experience. As Katie served others, she found that she too was served.

“When I now go on service trips, my eyes become open to what I feel I am called to do here on earth, and that is to serve others,” says Katie.

McGowan Grant for Spanish Outreach

“Welcoming”, “supportive”, “mission driven”, and “inclusive”-- together, these ideas capture the message contributors of the McGowan Grant for Spanish Outreach Program, such as Teresa Peck, Patricia Last, the McGowan Family, Father O'Hara, and many others, hope to share with the entire Northeast community.

Named for William G. McGowan, a man whose life exemplified the idea of ethics, the Spanish Outreach Program is designed to develop a growing appreciation for education among first-generation Hispanic students and their families. Developed in 2004, the program continues to be a center for research, evaluation, and publication of the best practices in ethics and moral development within the context of Catholic higher education.

Organizers expect several outcomes within the next few years. Among the most important is developing and building meaningful student service learning opportunities within the growing Hispanic community. The program is only the first step, however, in a much wider and important ethical movement.

“When you give the opportunity for education and growth, you are able to empower a human being, no matter where they come from,” says Patricia Last, Director of Grant and Foundation Relations.

Shoval Center

The establishment of the Shoval Center for Community Engagement and Learning is enabling the local community to tap into the volunteer resources at King's. The Center's goal is to provide students with hands-on experiences concerning social justice, citizenship, and service, as well as encourage faculty to use the community as a "classroom". The Shoval Center is run through the Office of Volunteer Services, and it was made possible by a gift from Judd and Susan Shoval, co-founders of the GUARD financial group.

Fr. Thomas O'Hara, President, believes King's future is directly related to the future of downtown Wilkes-Barre , and the Shoval Center will link King's myriad of resources to the local community. Part of the King's College mission statement is to maintain mutually beneficial ties between the college and the community. The Shoval Center delivers.

S.E.R.V.E.

Students on S.E.R.V.E. trips spend their days doing laundry, assisting in classrooms, cooking, cleaning—and in the evening they spend time with their groups reflecting on the challenges and blessings of the day.

During Fall Break students have the opportunity to spend three days on S.E.R.V.E. One popular destination is the Romero Center in Camden , New Jersey . Here students spend time with AIDS patients, the elderly and the homeless. The Romero Center educates students on social justice and the teachings of former Archbishop Oscar Romero.

WinterSERVE is more intense than most serve trips. Participation is by invitation of staff in the office of Volunteer Services. For the past several years King's has traveled to both the Andre House of Hospitality in Phoenix , Arizona and the Women's Hearth in Spokane , Washington . At Andre House, students prepare meals, distribute clothing, arrange showers, wash clothes and provide companionship to the homeless. The Women's Hearth provides day sanctuary for women and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

SpringSERVE is a popular choice for an alternative Spring Break experience. This past spring break students traveled to Maryland , Mexico , South Carolina and Georgia . In Maryland , students worked with the Benedictine sisters, aiding in the daily activities of children with autism as well as supplying necessities to migrant workers. In Mexico , students assisted with school activities and spent time with the elderly to learn about the culture. Both the South Carolina and Georgia teams worked with Habitat for Humanity building houses for low-income families.

Sophomore Stacey Williams volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. “The S.E.R.V.E. trip gave me a new outlook on life,” she says. “Going into the trip, I just thought I would learn how to use power tools and build houses to help people. Looking back, I realized I learned a lot about myself and what kind of person I wanted to be.”

Students also have the opportunity to do a SummerSERVE for which they can choose the venue under advisement from the office of Volunteer Services. Some students even participate in post graduate volunteer programs.

Service Learning

While volunteer experiences and opportunities vary, students find insights they cherish for years to come. “I have the rest of my life for a career and to make money,” says Katie. “Some of my best college memories have been while I was doing service. I don't plan on stopping that just because I graduate. I don't think any job I have will ever be as fulfilling and rewarding as what I experience while volunteering.”