Service

By EMILY McKENNA, JORDAN SCURRY, and MADDIE TAGALOA
Creighton Digital Storytellers

 Opening the doors into a kindergarten classroom, you can hear the shouting and laughter. As soon as the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority girls come in, though, it is dead silent. Students rush to their assigned reading partner and read their books. Katie Mumm approaches her student, John. She had been reading with him for six months and his reading has improved dramatically. They read the first couple pages of “Where the Wild Things Are” before he looks up at Katie and says, “Katie, you’re my role model.“

Mumm says she goes to Conestoga Elementary School every Friday because she knows she’s making an impact. She’s not alone in believing that by giving her time, she’s making a difference.

More than 77 million adults volunteered their time in 2018 according to Corporation for National and Community Service. In a time when you can scroll through your social media, have to-do lists that are miles long, it seems that there are never enough hours in the day to finish everything.

But people like Mumm are still choosing to give their time for others. When life seems to be more hectic than ever, why are people choosing to give their time to others? In “Voluntold or Volunteered,” we will be exploring why people are deciding to give their time to others.

Many College students volunteer their time, but for some students is a way of life. The Schlegel Center for Service and Justice at Creighton University awakens hearts and lives of solidarity to build a more just world.

The SCSJ helps students get involved in direct service with the community of Omaha. Madi Baker, a freshman in the Creighton College of Arts and Sciences has been a student that has taken advantage of the SCSJ service opportunities. The service that the SCSJ gave her changed her life.

“My Fall Break Service and Justice Trip has been a monumental moment in not only my Creighton experience but in my life as well,” she said. “By living sustainable and simply for a week, I was able to listen to those experiencing homelessness which completely changed my outlook on not only them but on the world. Because of this trip, I am more interested in becoming an advocate for those who cannot do so for themselves, which is why my major in Social Work is a perfect fit for me.”

Such experiences are why the younger generation feels compelled to give back to the community.  Working adults also feel that urge to give back too.

Len Gordy has a passion for giving back to the kids of the Omaha community. Gordy is a former college basketball player and coach, but he now works as the student and community outreach adviser at Creighton. Gordy takes great pride in his work with the youth in the Omaha community.

He was recently named Volunteer of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands and still continues to volunteer there. When asked why, even at 65 years old, it is still so important to continue working with kids and give back he responded,

“Being in a position where you can influence kids to do something positive,” Gordy said.
“It’s no question.”

Gordy has been able to serve for a role model for the kids he has been able to work with, but he doesn’t do it for the recognition,

“Honestly, I’m just a dude,” Gordy said. He says there are folks like him entrenched in all corners of the city, hoping to impart wisdom, encourage growth, celebrate achievement. Gordy just wants to do his part.

Numerous generations have seen the need to incorporate volunteering in their lives, but more than ever volunteering is being recognized as an achievement. Creighton University has recognized students for their volunteering accomplishments.

Pamela Vaughn, the administrative assistant for undergraduate programs, discusses why the Heider College of Business Dean’s Honor Roll for Social Responsibility was created.

“We recognize that business should be a positive force in society,” she said. “Hence, business education must include an appreciation of the relationship between business and social responsibility.”

Heider College of Business students have taken advantage of this honor roll. As of 2017, 54 business students have been recognized on the Social Responsibility honor roll. In addition to having your name published on the honor roll there are other benefits. Students who have achieved this honor receive a letter, certificate and have their name read at graduation award ceremonies. This is how students are honored for volunteering.

However, with awards like these it raises a question. Are students volunteering because they are passionate about serving their community or are they seeking recognition from it?

Millions of volunteers like Mumm are making profound impacts on the communities they serve. There is also a mixed motive in volunteering that deserve to be explored. Listen in as the Voluntold or Volunteered podcast team dive into this issue further.