New Students to Take ‘First Step’ in Community Service
Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275
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by Jessie Jilovec, student newswriter
WACO, Texas (Aug. 24, 2018) — New students will have an immediate opportunity to serve their new home’s community on Saturday, Aug. 25, through Baylor University’s First Step, a first-year student service day.
First Step is designed to orient new students with serving their community throughout their time at Baylor. Freshmen, graduate students and transfer students are invited to volunteer. The event is presented by Baylor’s Office of Community Engagement and Service Academy for Leadership Development.
“This is our way of introducing new students to Baylor’s longstanding tradition of service to our local community,” said Doriann Beverly, Ph.D., interim senior coordinator for community service at Baylor. “We are inviting all new students – freshmen, graduate students, transfer students – to become familiar with Waco and feel a sense of ownership of the community that is home to Baylor and supports the University in so many ways. First Step provides our new students with a wonderful way to begin their involvement with Waco.”
Check-in for students will begin at 7:45 a.m. Saturday in the SUB Bowl outside of Baylor’s Bill Daniel Student Center. Opening remarks will be given by Elizabeth Palacios, Ph.D., dean for student development, before students serve at various locations from 9 to 11 a.m. After their service, students will return to the SUB Bowl for food and fellowship.
Volunteers will choose from three service opportunities: assembling care kits for the homeless, working at the BU Community Garden at Ninth Street and James Avenue or helping Keep Waco Beautiful with cleanup in creeks, along the Riverwalk or the Baylor Marina.
Co-sponsors for the event include Urban Missions, New Student Programs, Student Activities, Counseling Center and Campus Recreation.
First Step also gives new students a glimpse into Steppin’ Out, Baylor’s community service program through which thousands of Baylor students “step out” together across Waco in the fall and spring to serve the community. This year’s fall Steppin’ Out event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10.
The first Steppin’ Out was held in the spring of 1985. Since that time, with nearly 3,000 students participating each semester, Steppin’ Out has grown into one of the largest community service projects on an American college campus and is nationally recognized for its commitment to service.
For more information, contact Doriann Beverly at 254-710-6936 or Doriann_Beverly@baylor.edu.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.