At 51爆料网, some of our most inspired learning happens outside of the classroom. A food bank. A senior center. A shelter for the unhoused.
Naiya Amin 鈥�26, a television, radio and film major, found this out when she joined , a leadership empowerment program for first-year and transfer students. Today, she is the group鈥檚 co-executive director.
鈥淟earning comes in all shapes and sizes,鈥� says Amin, who minors in and . 鈥淥rangeSeeds uses community engagement and service-learning experiences to not only teach leadership but also give back to local charities and nonprofits.鈥�
Volunteers kick off 鈥淭he Big Event,鈥� the University鈥檚 largest student-run community service project. Organized by OrangeSeeds, this year鈥檚 鈥淏ig Event鈥� occurred on Saturday, April 12.
Since 2001, OrangeSeeds has trained hundreds of undergraduates to thrive on campus, in the workplace and throughout the community. The registered student organization (RSO) attributes its success to instructional strategies steeped in critical thinking, creative problem-solving and effective communication.
This approach, Amin explains, sets clear expectations for integrity and accountability. 鈥淰olunteerism is a great way to show goodness while inspiring trust and confidence in others.鈥�
No surprise that 鈥淪ervice Saturdays鈥� is one of OrangeSeeds鈥� most popular fall initiatives. Students perform a variety of tasks, like preparing sandwiches at We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach and distributing holiday cards and handmade blankets at The Nottingham and the Salvation Army, respectively.
Otto the Orange is a regular presence at 鈥淭he Big Event.鈥� 鈥淪ome [students] participate to accrue service-learning credit; others, to build community and camaraderie,鈥� says OrangeSeeds Co-Executive Director Jack Withee 鈥�26. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lesson in grace.鈥�
The series culminates in the University鈥檚 largest student-run community service project called 鈥淭he Big Event.鈥� This year鈥檚 鈥淭he Big Event鈥� was Saturday, April 12.
鈥淲e drew approximately 175 student volunteers, many of whom were not affiliated with OrangeSeeds,鈥� says Co-Executive Director Jack Withee 鈥�26, an inclusive childhood education major. 鈥淪ome participated to accrue service-learning credit; others, to build community and camaraderie. Regardless, it was a lesson in grace.鈥�
A Passion for Service
Although OrangeSeeds attracts a wide range of students, a common thread among them is a desire to help others. 鈥淢ost candidates are go-getters with a passion for service,鈥� notes Assistant Director and Treasurer Regina Reisig 鈥�26, a civil engineering major.
Withee was a high school senior when he found out about OrangeSeeds through the daughter of a family friend who served on the program鈥檚 executive board.
鈥淲e were at a graduation party, and she grabbed me by the shoulders and told me, under no uncertain terms, to apply,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even know what OrangeSeeds was, but I knew it was the right thing to do.鈥�
Withee and Amin oversee the executive board鈥檚 10 members, each of whom has specific responsibilities and mentors two to three students known as 鈥淪eeds.鈥�
OrangeSeeds draws on instructional strategies steeped in critical thinking, creative problem-solving and effective communication.
Between weekly meetings and informal get-togethers, Seeds interact with one another and their mentors almost daily. Friendships are formed. Coffee is consumed. There鈥檚 a lot of talk about health and wellness.
Reisig marvels at how Withee begins every meeting with a 鈥渕ental health check-in.鈥� 鈥淎s an executive board member with two mentees of my own, I try to emulate what Jack teaches us about personal and civic responsibility. He鈥檚 a good role model.鈥�
Helping Others, Helping Yourself
The Rev. Brian Konkol (left), vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel, at 鈥淭he Big Event鈥� on April 12.
Every Seed has a compelling backstory. Nolan Singh 鈥�28 used to volunteer at GiGi鈥檚 Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center, in Orange County, California. Madlyn Ritter 鈥�28 belonged to Interact, a Rotary-sponsored service club, in suburban Philadelphia. Amin became interested in local politics and social justice while attending high school in southern Connecticut.
鈥淭he Big Event鈥� marks the culmination of the OrangeSeeds鈥� 鈥淪ervice Saturdays鈥� initiative. 鈥淰olunteerism is a great way to show goodness while inspiring trust and confidence in others,鈥� says Co-Executive Director Naiya Amin 鈥�26.
Ritter and Singh have the distinction of being the only first-year Seeds to work alongside 鈥淭he Big Event鈥檚鈥� planning committees. Since the fall, Singh has learned 鈥渧olumes鈥� about volunteer and event management. The psychology major is still reeling from the success of the program鈥檚 winter fundraiser鈥攁n evening of rapid-fire games in the 鈥攂别苍别蹿颈迟迟颈苍驳 . 鈥淓very experience teaches me something about myself and others.鈥�
Madlyn Ritter 鈥�28 describes OrangeSeeds as 鈥渇un work.鈥� The leadership empowerment program was founded in 2001.
He and Ritter are virtually inseparable, having trimmed hedges for Housing Visions, a nonprofit property manager; assembled information packets for the McMahon Ryan Child Advocacy Center; and staged events for La Casita Cultural Center.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun work,鈥� says Ritter, who donned a costume for Rosamond Gifford Zoo鈥檚 daytime Halloween celebration, 鈥淶oo Boo.鈥� 鈥淚 already have lots of memories.鈥�
As does Amin. Like the time Withee plucked a spider off her face during a yard cleanup. Or when she shredded turkeys for the Rescue Mission鈥檚 Thanksgiving Day feast. 鈥淚鈥檓 a die-hard vegetarian who鈥檇 never harm anything,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 just want to help others.鈥�
Much of OrangeSeeds鈥� work takes place off campus, often involving local charities and nonprofits.
A graduate of a 鈥渞eally small school鈥� in New York City, Reisig values the sense of belonging that OrangeSeeds engenders on a large campus.
鈥淎lmost every RSO has in it a Seed or a friend of Seed,鈥� she observes. 鈥淧arents appreciate this because they know that their child is safe, that someone is looking out for them.鈥�
Reisig also lauds OrangeSeeds鈥� academic merits. Last summer, she designed a multipurpose community center at an internship in Manhattan. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have done it without my OrangeSeeds training,鈥� Reisig continues. 鈥淲orking in a predominately male field, I鈥檝e learned how to advocate for myself and others.鈥�
Adds Withee: 鈥淥rangeSeeds helps you develop skills for success in college, the working world and your community. In helping others, you help yourself.鈥�
