School is back in session here at Waynesburg University. With all the students back on campus and classes in full swing, there is a lot of hustle and bustle on campus. But what does that look like off campus? 

There are about 1,700 students that attend Waynesburg University. Each one of them not only brings money towards the university, but also to the near by community.  

I believe the biggest impact the students have on the community is through service work.  

Just on W. High Street, nonprofit businesses, and churches that receive service from multiple students but one group in particular: the Bonner scholars.  

A local church, First Baptist Church, is one of the many place’s students supply their community service.  

“Bonners have served in our children and youth programs,” said church director Mandi Restanio. “Either helping children on Sunday mornings, or we have an after-school program on Wednesdays, or we have youth group Sunday nights. We have Bonners in all those places serving.  

Without this community service, events would not happen, and the churches would struggle.  

“Many of our big events do not happen over the summer or we really have to be mindful of what we do because we don’t have the volunteers we would have during the school year,” said Restanio. “I truly believe the Bonners do a great job of bridging the university and the community of Waynesburg.” 

In the 2022 calendar year, the Bonner scholars supplied $108,000 dollars towards to the community through 27,000 hours of unpaid community service.  

I am a Bonner and seeing a dollar sign next to the work we do truly brings to light the impact we have on the community. With such a large monetary effect from just a small group of students, I see this as something that members of the community look forward to.  

“I think in the summers when our students our gone, I think our partners can just tell, it is like something is missing,” said Assistant Dean of Student Development, Adrienne Tharp. “Students are some of the biggest supports…I don’t think we realize how much they rely on our students on a regular basis.”  

Many of the students truly do not see the great effect they have on the community. In April of 2023, the Bonner foundation calculated that each hour of service a student completes, raises $31.80 for that organization. This impact goes unnoticed by the members of Waynesburg.  

“We definitely have an impact,” said Tharp. “Not just in the hours that we give but getting involved in the community and getting off campus.” 

The service Waynesburg community receives from each student, does not go unseen for the locals.