Student volunteer opportunities benefit resumes, credit hours
Hallie Beeler
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Features
The number of college students who volunteer is up about 20 percent from 2002 to 2005, according to a study from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
The study also says college students are more likely to participate in volunteer activities than others their age not enrolled in higher education.
These findings might be surprising considering all college students have to do. They have classes, work, and social activities that leave little time for volunteering. Yet many organizations have succeeded recruiting this demographic.
Heidi Pries, director of student involvement and new student programs at Grand View, said, "It's hard to get over 'what's in it for me,' but once a student commits and has a positive experience, it tends to sprout more and more action in service."
Though getting participation is an obstacle for volunteer groups, students who volunteer can get many benefits.
In 2002, a group of University of Iowa students started the '10,000 Hours Show' to encourage students to give what time they had available. The organization requires each registered volunteer to serve at least 10 hours at an approved site and, in return, earn a free ticket to the '10,000 Hours' exclusive concert.
Since then they've had five other concerts and the concept has spread to the East Coast. Teaming up with sponsors like AmeriCorps and United Way of America, the '10,000 Hours Show' has been able to bring in artists such as Ben Folds, Cake, Jack's Mannequin and OK Go.
Other opportunities come with volunteering such as service trips or even scholarships in exchange for volunteer hours. Depending on where students volunteer, they can even receive internship credit.
"I volunteered at the Latino Heritage Festival as a requirement for class and it was an interesting experience being out of my comfort zone," Kate Minnich, psychology senior, said. "I had to communicate with people that spoke mostly Spanish and was immersed in a different culture."
The study also says college students are more likely to participate in volunteer activities than others their age not enrolled in higher education.
These findings might be surprising considering all college students have to do. They have classes, work, and social activities that leave little time for volunteering. Yet many organizations have succeeded recruiting this demographic.
Heidi Pries, director of student involvement and new student programs at Grand View, said, "It's hard to get over 'what's in it for me,' but once a student commits and has a positive experience, it tends to sprout more and more action in service."
Though getting participation is an obstacle for volunteer groups, students who volunteer can get many benefits.
In 2002, a group of University of Iowa students started the '10,000 Hours Show' to encourage students to give what time they had available. The organization requires each registered volunteer to serve at least 10 hours at an approved site and, in return, earn a free ticket to the '10,000 Hours' exclusive concert.
Since then they've had five other concerts and the concept has spread to the East Coast. Teaming up with sponsors like AmeriCorps and United Way of America, the '10,000 Hours Show' has been able to bring in artists such as Ben Folds, Cake, Jack's Mannequin and OK Go.
Other opportunities come with volunteering such as service trips or even scholarships in exchange for volunteer hours. Depending on where students volunteer, they can even receive internship credit.
"I volunteered at the Latino Heritage Festival as a requirement for class and it was an interesting experience being out of my comfort zone," Kate Minnich, psychology senior, said. "I had to communicate with people that spoke mostly Spanish and was immersed in a different culture."
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