As a small, private Christian school, Waynesburg University contains approximately 1,400 undergraduate students, and, as most students and faculty are aware, the mission of the school is put simply in three words: faith, learning and service.

“Service is in the DNA of Waynesburg University,” said Kelley Hardie, assistant dean of student services. “It’s our identity as a whole. I truly think that by making that connection between academics and service, our students have an ability to make such a difference in the community.”

The final piece of that mission, service, has driven the over 50,000 total volunteer hours that students and faculty at the university completed locally, domestically and internationally in 2017. These hours of service include mission trips, local “Service Saturday” events and other opportunities for volunteering that students participated in to benefit communities last year.

According to Hardie, in celebration of and coordination with that commitment to service, National Volunteer Week events are being hosted each day by the office of student services April 15 through 22.

“It is a week to thank our volunteers for all that they do,” Hardie said. “What better way to celebrate our mission at Waynesburg University than to also celebrate National Volunteer Week.”

The kickoff for the week will be organized with the Relay for Life activities, the start of which will be announced within the opening ceremonies of the Relay for Life the morning of April 15.

Each of the weekdays in the National Volunteer Week will include events such as a service trip fair, a servant leadership-focused speech from an alumnus and an opportunity for further volunteering in creating a care package for the Ronald McDonald house and a Service Saturday trip to the Humane Society.

According to Hardie, she was made aware of the National Volunteer Week from other non-profits the university interacts with during their service, and she knew “instantly” after doing research that this event would be “great to thank our volunteers.”

“As we celebrate the conclusion of our school year, it is a great way to wrap up all of the hours that we have done as a campus student body,” Hardie said.

This year will be the first time the university has hosted National Volunteer Week events on campus. The nationwide recognition of volunteering coincides with the clear dedication to service demonstrated at the university.

“It’s a natural fit to what we do at Waynesburg University and our mission,” Hardie said. “It’s also a way for us to give back to our local community as well.”