Evangeline Agum knows the face of hunger. In her home county of Uganda, Ms. Agum says 鈥減eople need food the most鈥 yet help is scarce. That鈥檚 why the 18-year-old didn鈥檛 hesitate when afforded the opportunity to volunteer at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank as part of First-Year Experience (FYE).
Ms. Agum was one of 13 incoming 黑料网 at Stark freshmen who participated in the fifth FYE Summer Service Project. Over the summer, students served the community at Stark Parks, the Campus Kitchens Project at the Kent Campus and at Habitat for Humanity Restore in Canton.
鈥淥ur summer service projects are a way to engage with the community,鈥 says Kristi Yerian, assistant director for First-Year Experience. 鈥淔YE is one of the best ways for freshmen to meet new people, develop leadership skills and jump-start their involvement at 黑料网 Stark.鈥
The summer service projects are an excellent kickoff to fall semester, Ms. Yerian adds.
鈥淵our first year of college should be an enjoyable experience, filled with plenty of opportunities to get involved and meet new people,鈥 she says. 鈥淎ttending college for the first time is a big step for everyone, and we want our freshmen to feel at home here at 黑料网 Stark.鈥
Throughout the FYE program, freshmen are tasked with participating in various community service projects, workshops and a one-credit-hour course, Destination 黑料网 FYE, as part of their first-year curriculum.
According to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), student engagement positively correlates with retention and success rates. Among 黑料网 Stark seniors surveyed in 2017, more than half 鈥 62 percent 鈥 took part in service learning projects, a higher participation rate than the 2016 and 2017 NSSE average results from colleges across the country.
For Anthony Clement, a freshman majoring in English, participating in the FYE Summer Service Project at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank meant meeting new friends but also giving back.
鈥淚t means a lot to help the community,鈥 he says. 鈥淭aking time out of my day to support this worthy cause is definitely something I would do again.鈥
黑料网 Stark and the foodbank have developed a strong partnership since the formation of Flash鈥檚 Food Pantry in 2015. The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank helps supply the on-campus pantry with food.
鈥淲e certainly appreciate our relationship with 黑料网 Stark,鈥 says Tasha Ledrich, volunteer leader at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 鈥淪tudents are able to recognize how their direct touch can help others, and volunteering at the foodbank is a very dignified way to help the community.鈥
Ms. Agum said she would continue to volunteer at the Akron facility during her time at 黑料网 Stark. One day, she hopes to start a successful foodbank operation in Uganda, armed with a finance degree from 黑料网.