BSU TRIO students turn out in numbers to support Boise women's fitness race













Volunteer Work, or "Service Learning" Isn't Just "Nice To Do" but Is Essential for Scholarships

Introduction / How Service Learning Works / Student Story / Resources

Introduction
     Boise State University's TRIO pre-college program students earned over half a million dollars in scholarships to help them enter postsecondary education in fall 2002.  
    
Reasons are no doubt numerous, but at least one contributing factor is staff efforts to engage their students in service learning or volunteer work. (The staff avoids "Community Service" which carries a connotation of service required for legal infractions.) Service Learning involves learning about social and community issues while contributing to the betterment of society.

Scholarships require hundreds of hours
     "Scholarships often require many hours of volunteer work in addition to high GPAs and test scores," says Upward Bound teacher Julie Bú. "Many of our students are doing well if they can put together 10 to 20 hours before it's time to apply for scholarships. Still, every little bit helps their chances." See Resources for volunteer hours required for Congressional Awards to high school achievers.

Additional benefits: career ideas, even jobs
    "We find many more benefits than helping students win scholarships," says Sue Huizinga, BSU TRIO Pre-College Programs Director. "Volunteering for various groups gives students a chance to meet people in professions that may end up influencing students when making career decisions. Also, some students have been offered jobs based on relationships built while doing volunteer work."  

Next: How Service Learning Works



TRIO Volunteers pose by Morrison Park Fountain. They handed out water and helped out at a Boise women's fitness race . See Student Story

 


UI TRiO Training Home / Best Practices / Drop-in Tutoring /
Commuter's Home / Career Exploring / Service Learning /
Peer Tutoring / Peer Review