Getting Involved
The Office of Leadership and Community Involvement helps student volunteers match their skills to organizations that need their help. Students can apply at the LCI office or online using a placement database with 10 search criteria that returns a list of agency options. LCI also hosts an annual volunteer expo for students to learn more about service opportunities.
Clyde notes that as many as 90 percent of students participated in service projects while in high school, while only 30 percent continue serving after high school. She hopes SMU service offerings will reignite students’ passion for volunteering.
Like many students, Ryan Moore was active in high school volunteer service in
his hometown of McKinney, Texas, and wanted to stay involved once he arrived
at SMU.
Moore, now the president of SPARC, says the growing number of students who want to volunteer is encouraging. SPARC has about 50 regular volunteers, but its biggest event, Community Service Day, attracted 500 students last year. Students also choose to work with groups such as Teach for America and the Volunteer Center of North Texas.
“We have something for everybody,” says Moore, a junior with a triple major in economics, public policy and cinema/TV. “No matter what you are interested in you will find a project. We just want students to take the first step.”
Junior Nicola Muchnikoff began volunteering with SPARC two years ago and now serves as director of youth tours on campus. Twice a week she and other volunteers introduce potential first-generation college-bound students to SMU, discuss scholarship options and answer their questions about campus life. SPARC hosts 20 to 30 middle schools each semester.
“We want to plant the seed and tell them that college is an option for them,” says Muchnikoff, a political science major with aspirations of joining the Peace Corps. College is so necessary to go anywhere in life.”
Muchnikoff, who attends SMU on a scholarship, says helping others puts her own life in perspective.
“I honestly see how lucky and blessed I am,” she says. “A lot of students think they’re too busy, but they don’t realize that maybe taking out one hour a week, they will get such joy from helping others. When I finish a tour, there is such a high. The kids are so happy. Who knows what these kids will do
with their lives because of this experience?”
– Karen Nielsen