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Community service is an integral part of the R-MC experience. |
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8/23/12
Community service is an integral part of the Randolph-Macon College experience. The
Service Fellows Program is one way for students to learn the importance of giving back.
The Service Fellows Program is a multi-year experience that integrates service opportunities with instruction, reflection, and exploration of the contexts and root causes of social needs. During Service Fellows Weekend, held July 27-29, 2012, both new and existing members participated in community-service projects and leadership education.
The Service Fellows cut back the dense overgrowth at R-MC’s native-plant lot at the corner of Smith and Henry Streets and spruced up a neglected residence in Ashland. The latter project was recommended by Nora Amos, Town of Ashland Director of Planning and Community Development.
“It was a matter of perfect timing for the Town, R-MC and the property owner to get some much needed clean up done to the overgrown landscaping,” says Amos. “We are all so thankful for the hard work the students put in that day. Some offered to come back to continue to help. We have received several positive comments from community members about the improvements. “
“It was grueling work on a very hot day,” says R-MC
Sociology Professor Reber Dunkel, who oversaw the weekend projects. “The group was awesome—the students hauled mulch and cleared brush but didn’t complain, despite the heat.” Dunkel was from November 2011 – July 2012 the coordinator of
SERVE (Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer Experiences). All R-MC service projects fall under the SERVE umbrella, and students log their volunteer hours in a database maintained by the
Office of Student Life.
One of the main goals of the weekend, in addition to welcoming the new first-year Fellows, was to introduce the group’s principal community-service project,
Stop Hunger Now (SHN), which takes place on October 29, 2012 in the
Brock Sports and Recreation Center. Volunteers, who will team up to package meals to support school feeding programs and international crisis relief, hope to package more than 30,000 meals.
“The Stop Hunger Now meal-packaging program packaging program is an opportunity to provide a meaningful experience that has the potential to involve the entire campus community,” says James McGhee, assistant dean of students and advisor to the Service Fellows. “Stop Hunger Now is a unique, worthwhile project.”
For more information about The Service Fellows Program, contact James McGhee at
jamesmcghee@rmc.edu or Jayme Watkins, coordinator of co-curricular programs, at
jaymewatkins@rmc.edu.