The 25 for 25 Day of Service on March 18 celebrated the 25th anniversary of Waynesburg University’s Bonner Scholar Program. A total of 236 volunteers served at 27 different service sites in Greene County, Washington County and Pittsburgh.
Assistant Dean of Students Kelley Hardie said volunteers consisted of 72 percent students, 12 percent staff, five percent faculty, six percent alumni and five percent guests.
Greene County sites included 2nd Sam 9, Eva K. Bowlby Public Library, Greater Waynesburg Christian Outreach and Corner Cupboard Food Bank, among others. The service locations were chosen because of their relationships with the university.
“These are sites we have long service partnerships with so all of the sites within Greene County our Bonner scholars and non-Bonners serve at them regularly,” said Hardie. “What’s really great about these sites is they’re allowing our students to come and volunteer even if they’re not open so some of them are closed on Saturday, but they’re welcoming a group of volunteers to help them.”
The Bonner Scholar Program at Waynesburg University is a four-year scholarship that requires 140 hours of community service each semester. There are only 21 schools that offer the program in the country, and Waynesburg University is one of the two schools in Pennsylvania to offer the program.
Coordinator of the Bonner Scholar Program Adrienne Tharp said that all of the current Bonner scholars participated in the 25 for 25 Service Saturday, and some volunteers served outside of southwestern Pennsylvania.
“We have a few [Bonner scholars] that are studying abroad, and they actually said that they [would serve] in their communities where they’re studying abroad so that’s really exciting,” said Tharp.
Service Saturdays and Bonner scholars reflect Waynesburg University’s mission of faith, learning and service.
“It’s part of the mission, obviously, a core part of the Bonner scholars program, and it fits really well into the Bonner Foundation,” said Tharp.
Katie Kondrick, a junior public and applied history major, has been serving at the Greene County Historical Society since the Spring semester of her freshman year. She has witnessed the impact of service through volunteering locally, regionally and internationally.
“I believe that service doesn’t just bring a community together, but it brings a student body together, and it brings individuals together that who not have the opportunity to be in a classroom together,” said Kondrick. “[It] allows them to reach out to others together and see how they can use their work in unison no matter what their major or no matter what their interest is and combine all of those things to get the job done.”
The Bonner Scholar Program’s anniversary was also celebrated with a dinner on Saturday evening for current Bonner scholars, alumni, community partners and other guests. Speakers included Waynesburg University President Douglas Lee and President of The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation Dr. Bobby Hackett.
The Bonner Scholar Program was also recognized during Charter Day on March 21. Chancellor Timothy Thyreen, former president of the university, spoke at the convocation.