Volunteer Fair Held on Day University Nationally Recognized for Service Learning
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood when United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania recruits Scranton students at the University’s annual Volunteer Fair. From left are: Daysi Carreto, program coordinator for the Community Education and Revitalization Department; Laurie Fleming, director of the Active Older Adult Program; Pam Berg, case manager of post foster care support for the Community Services Department; and Terilynn Brechtel, senior case manager for the Community Education and Revitalization Department.
Eighty-two area nonprofit organizations, a record number, participated in The University of Scranton’s annual Volunteer Fair to recruit students for various service projects at their organizations. The Sept. 13 fair coincided with the release of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges in America” rankings, which recognized Scranton among the best 27 colleges in the nation for “Service Learning.” U.S. News selected colleges that exceled in key areas based on peer surveys. Scranton and The University of Pennsylvania were the only two colleges recognized in the Commonwealth for “Service Learning.”
Nearly 600 students attended the fair to search for a service opportunity that would best correlate with their own personal passions and motivations. First-year student Annie Gormley of Havertown was “amazed at the various options for service that Scranton has to offer.”
Each year, more than 2,800 University students participate in community engagement through service-learning courses, service programs, volunteer activities, downtown revitalization engagement events and student club projects.
In addition to U.S. News, The Princeton Review listed Scranton in its 2017 edition of “The Best 381 Colleges,” ranking Scranton among the nation’s colleges with “Students Most Engaged in Community Service” (No. 20). Scranton was also ranked No. 38 in the nation among master’s universities in a listing, published by Washington Monthly, that rates colleges based on their contribution to “social mobility, research and service.” Scranton is also among just 361 colleges in the nation earning Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Agencies participating included AseraCare, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Nativity Miguel School, among others.
The annual fair is organized by the Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice at the University.
