New Billikens Participate in First New Student Day of Service

by Jeff Ackels on 08/28/2018

08/28/2018

Roughly 1,800 Billikens participated in Saint Louis University’s first New Student Day of Service Saturday, Aug. 25. Participants volunteered at more than 50 sites in the St. Louis area.

New Billikens participated in a variety of volunteer opportunities during SLU's first New Student Day of Service on Aug. 25, including helping with home repairs. Photo by Steve Dolan.

The service day is a new way to introduce incoming students to the values of a Jesuit education and the tradition of being service men and women for others.

Justin Vilbig, program coordinator at the Center for Service and Community Engagement, said he has gotten glowing feedback from the service sites about the SLU volunteers.

"It was a wonderful service day," Vilbig said. "I think our newest Billikens will fit right in with our campus' culture of service. It really does speak to the caliber of students entering SLU and excites me for the inspiring things they will achieve here at SLU and beyond."

SLU students spent about five hours on projects that benefited one of approximately 40 community groups. The day consisted of a variety of projects, such as weeding urban gardens, sorting clothing donations and repairing homes for the elderly.

The New Student Day of Service is among many SLU-sponsored service initiatives that includes new 1818 community engagement grants that will fund student-led projects; Showers of Service, which is sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega; and a staff-faculty service day that will be held in October.