Opportunities plentiful for student volunteers
Heather Valmy
Students interested in getting involved in the community can find outlets at MCC through service learning, Peervention, or the honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. Duane Oakes, director of the service learning program at MCC, places students in the community to volunteer while earning college credits.
“It’s important to give back,” said Oakes, “but also to learn while doing it.”
Many majors such as education, nursing and fire science, require students to take service learning credits.
Volunteer opportunities can be found in places such as the Mesa fire department, hospitals, public schools, and local organizations such as the Boys and Girls club of America or the YMCA.
The service learning program at MCC offers students the chance to work with an organization called Americorps, which serves the community through education, public safety, health and the environment.
“We had 727 participants successfully complete 579,000 hours of community service, earning $894,000 in education awards,” said Oakes.
Not only does serving the community give college credit but as Oakes explained, “These projects are real, they’re alive.”
The Peervention program is another way for students to serve by spreading awareness about the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse (AOD).
“AOD abuse is the cause of much human misery resulting in underachievement, health, legal and financial problems,” said Christa Adams,
MCC counselor and coordinator of the Peervention program.
Volunteers are trained in substance abuse prevention and become certified as peer educators through the organization Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students (BACCHUS).
Students interested in serving within the Peervention program, can make an appointment with Adams in the MCC counseling department.
MCC honor society, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), works with Peervention to encourage students to find positive outlets for stress such as, meditation, social gatherings and serving the community.
MCC PTK members, now 220, receive scholarship money for meeting their community service membership goal.
While the PTK activity schedule may be time consuming, “The PTK fellowship is all about having fun,” said Navarro.
“We take part in service activities with organizations such as Operation Green, Project C.U.R.E, Beyond Our Borders, and Keep America Beautiful.” Said PTK president, Melissa Navarro.
“College should be more than just a collection of classes,” said Oakes, “It’s about making the curriculum come alive.
