Service
Each year, as the marathon approaches, we wonder — Can we make it again? Then I remember all my visits to the children's hospital... I realize that standing on my feet for 24 hours is a small sacrifice. These kids, these families never get a break from fighting their diseases. The marathon is our chance to show them they are not alone.
— Ruth Garland '08, Organizer, Pack-a-thon fundraiser (Above, far left)
Civic engagement is one of the foundations of the Park Scholar experience. Through scholars' involvement in individual and in group volunteer activities, Park Scholars improve the lives of their fellow human beings on campus, in Raleigh, and throughout the country and the world. Last year, scholars contributed tens of thousands of hours of community service by raising money through a dance marathon, holding a bone marrow drive, directing a musical at a local middle school, and participating in hundreds of other endeavors. Some scholars even choose to travel during their Spring Break to volunteer in Costa Rica and in other overseas locations.
These fundamental experiences in leadership and service provide the trajectory for Park Scholars to become influential public servants and dynamic leaders of industry and education.
Service Raleigh
Helping to lead a campus and community wide service event [like Service Raleigh] was very exciting. For me, the best part was getting others to be excited about the event; It was rewarding to hear everyone talking about how happy they were to be participating and afterward how much they loved the site to which they had been assigned. It was satisfying that we had pulled it off and it was a success.
— Marlana Sheridan '09
Service Raleigh is a Park Scholar tradition, run by students in partnership with the NC State Student Government Association. It is an exciting opportunity for the scholars to work with others for the good of the community and to utilize important leadership, team-building, and organizational skills.
Service Raleigh was started by the first class of Park Scholars and has grown to include more than 2,000 volunteers for an annual day of service in the City of Raleigh each spring. In 2003, Service Raleigh grew to Service North Carolina where 16 North Carolina colleges and universities participated in a day of service for the state. In 2005, James Oblinger, NC State Chancellor, and David Crabtree, four-time North Carolina Journalist of the Year, kicked off this important community event. Last year's event in 2007 marked the 10 year anniversary of the event.
Helpful Links
Krispy Kreme Challenge
The Krispy Kreme Challenge is one of the newest service projects at NC State; this Park Scholar founded event is a race that's best described by the numbers: 4 miles, 12 donuts, 60 minutes or less.
The Challenge is more than a gastric and physical endurance test; however, last year's event raised more than $10,000 for the NC Children's Hospital. What started with 10 participants has grown to 1,400 participants in just three years. Plans are already underway for next year's race in January 2008.