Martin Luther King the learner

When was the last time you considered yourself a student? College students of my generation are just finishing up their degrees and I can't believe that kids born in the 90s are in college already. Regardless of when you graduate from any stage of your education, you are still learning, whether you know it or not.

Martin Luther King was a student of life. He studied it, lived it, pursued it. His formal education began in the public schools of Atlanta and turned into a series of lily pad jumps to college where he absorbed the philosophies of Gandhi, studied theology, grew in his faith, and began to feel a burden for social justice.

Outside the walls of institutions MLK learned the patterns of American life on the black side of the fence. He also learned to question-- to question those patterns, why they exist, and what forces could break those patters. Learning propelled MLK from a position of waiting for change to happen to a position of making change happen.

After spending the first few years of his life in four different schools, including two different high schools, outstanding college entrance scores and a government program to fill America's universities during WWII landed him in Morehouse College at the age of 15. I won't give you the run down of the rest of MLK's schooling, but you should know that between the ages of 19 and 26 (years 1945 - 55) he received two bachelor's degrees, one in sociology and one in divinity, and a doctorate of philosophy in systematic theology.

If MLK's areas of study tell us anything, it's that humans intrigued him-- their behavior (sociology) and interaction with God (divinity). His thirst for knowledge about both topics came to a head with his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement. He offered answers as to why so many humans condone racism (sociology) and what God has to say about it (divinity). And to complement both areas perfectly was King's philosophical anchor, Gandhi, and his ideas of nonviolent resistance.

There's no telling exactly all the information MLK learned over the course of his short life. Our only sources for what we know today are his speeches, writings, and accounts of his contemporaries. But Dr. King didn't grow up learning just sermon writing and history. Along the way he learned how to tie his shoes, how to do long divison, how to politely introduce himself, and how to find a seat at the back of the bus. Just like you and I, he also picked up patterns and symbols that socialized him into a "normal" American, as normal as you can call MLK.

What does this have to do with you? You're a learner just as Martin Luther King was. He determined what kind of learner he would be, and you and I have the same choice. Without the pursuit of more knowledge our worldview and understanding will never grow and our ability to spark change will be stunted as a result. That doesn't mean listening to the evening news every night this week will bring world peace, but it's a good beginning to pursuing life just as MLK did.

Dr. King based his movement of nonviolence on the teachings of Gandhi, pictured on the wall.

Information source: Lousiana State University, "Martin Luther King. Jr.: A biographical sketch"

Martin Luther King the human

Before we begin the biographical series on MLK's life, I'd like to express a short disclaimer: we're on the outside looking in. What we know today is from books, articles, and photos: second-hand accounts. That said, only those closest to Dr. King know the real man and though you nor I will never know him like we know our own friends, we shan't tire to continue to understand and learn from one of the most influential voices of the 20th century.

-----

Before Martin Luther King, Jr. was anything, he was a human.

Before the speeches, marches, and protests, he lived in a world of what people then called "Negroes," a term alien to contemporary vocabulary. Born into lineages of pastors and share croppers, Martin (orginally named Michael) lived on the nicest "black" street in Atlanta, ate three healthy meals a day, and received an education in the public school system. His mother, a college graduate, washed his clothes and tucked him in at night. His dad taught him to open doors for ladies and how to say grace before dinner. From the outside looking in, his world was as perfect as it could be... but separate and unequal from the other half of American society.

Imagine two worlds separated by an invisible line, and when that line becomes unclear, tear gas and fire hoses attempt to re-align the status quo. Racism and prejudice laced MLK's childhood memories. As a young boy he lost a white friend to the racism of the friend's parents. On hot days he had to find a "colored" drinking fountain. As Martin grew up he began to tread the invisible line between the two worlds, and he wasn't going to let tear gas and fire hoses stop him.

Decades after his death, we see Dr. King as a statue of marble. Smooth, illustrious, and flawless in every way. His image today is the result of a common phenomenon of human psychology. After someone dies, we only regale the good deeds and shining moments because it's shameful to speak ill of someone who in life did so much good, as if we're going to reverse their actions with our whispers. As a result, with each passing generation the legacy of someone long since passed becomes more resilient and less... human.

And if MLK was anything, he was human.

Passion and faith lit is soul. Words blossomed from his mouth and and transplanted into the hearts of listeners. He felt fury for his friends lying soaking wet and bruised in the streets because someone thought water could rinse away the Civil Rights Movement. The reverand held tight to his children, praying that some day they could share a water fountain with their white friends. He didn't begin his life with perfection and he didn't end it with such, and that's not a bad thing. He cried tears of anguish, smiled at the thought of love, and clenched his fists in anger. Some days his suit pants were wrinkly and maybe he picked the pickles off his burgers.

As a member of a generation on the other end of MLK's dreams, what does all of this mean for you? It means that if you have wrinkly pants, if you don't like pickles, or if you think your ideas are impossible, you can remember that your role model started somewhere. He or she was a human first, will remain a complex and flawed being, but you will remember that person for the change in your life despite the humanity of your hero.

Information source: biography.com "Martin Luther King, Jr."

The doc, the rev, the rebel.

We often refer to him as "MLK," as if his real name and title are a mystery or, like Voldemort, must not be named. We use a shorter version of "the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." because frankly, that's a mouthful. His titles and suffix, however, represent the evolutions of his life that brought him to the front lines of the Civil Rights Movemement. He wasn't Sir Martin Luther King or Martin King, MBA. He preached to the people, earned a doctorate, and lived life with his father's name. A story lies within his name, and we're going to explore it in an expository series that will unfold between now and the MLK Day of Service on January 17, 2011.

If you have any tid bits about the life and times of the Reverand or would like to contribute, don't hesitate to send me a cyber letter.

Dr. and Mrs. (Coretta Scott) King eventually had four children.

Make time to make a difference

Despite the catchy phrase in the logo, fellow Camels, students don't have MLK Day off at Campbell. You do, however, have some spare time between classes and meals to help give back in honor of the life and works of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

You don't have to appreciate Dr. King to celebrate the MLK Day Service. If you appreciate being a light to the world, going against the grain, persuasive speech, or living a life of undying passion, then your place on January 17 is in a service project because you appreciate the same ideals Dr. King did.

"MLK" is perhaps one of the most well-known series of three letters in the English speaking world. Why? Becuse they represent the name of one of the most influential American men of the twentieth century. His words brought a society to its knees and are a big part of why you go to school with people from walks of life different than your own.

If you've participated in Operation Inasmuch or the 9/11 Day of Service, you know the drill... sort of. The projects are all local, but this year they reflect themes of health: physical health, environmental health, and mental/emotional health. Also, you don't sign up for which project you want-- it's called the MLK Challenge Model and it means, in order to represent overcoming adversity with diversity, that you are randomly placed into a project. 

Yes, that means that even if you sign up to rake leaves with your best friend, it doesn't mean you guys will be in your social comfort zone doing something familiar to you. You might end up meeting six new people and visiting a nursing home, or maybe you'll get to know that quiet kid from biology and end up making care packages for a soldier.

The projects are designed to be short-term but impactful. We understand that you have classes and homework, so we hope you can make the time to make a difference.

Look for the sign-up sheet in the Oasis when you return from winter break. Between now and then, keep up with MLK Day information on the Facebook page.

Check out this pastor's interpretation of Martin Luther King's work and what it can mean for the Christian community.







"Do not think you cannot make a difference today."

Blessed are the merciful

Have you experienced mercy lately?

"Mercy" is one of those words we commonly associate with the New Testament. Jesus used it frequently in his teachings because of its relevancy to his ministry. 

Examples of mercy are everywhere. Maybe for you it means sitting with the new kid at lunch, keeping an embarrassing secret, or maybe this year it'll be holding hands with the homeless, poor, and hungry.

The thing about mercy is that it's a two-way street. Many Americans feel accustomed to giving/thinking we give mercy because we have the means to offer it in material form-- we can donate money, offer canned goods, and give away our old clothes. While those donations are valuable, they're easy because we just write a check or sort through old boxes, and our stuff becomes someone else's burden. 

What if you started taking on burdens and exercising mercy through your emotions and time? Eat lunch with the working poor, bake bread with an unemployed mom in your house, or sit and listen to the worries of a man who's scared to tell his wife their home has been foreclosed. Whatever you do, welcome someone who needs something (a listening ear, words of praise, good advice) into a safe place and stick by them. Sometimes all we need to get through life is a companion.

I mention that because when you volunteer with people who typically get the "untouchable" label, remember that it's not you vs. them. It's both of you vs. the world and you're there to be their friend, not a benefactor.

---

Love isn't seasonal, but of course certain times of the year bring more obvious opportunities for volunteering, donating, and other forms of providing. While I like to encourage long-term investment volunteering, below are a few things going on over the holidays you might want to check out. 

If you're sitting in a warm room in a household that bought the computer you're using, someone out there needs your help.


- Raleigh Rescue Mission has a plethora of opportunities revolving around Turkey Day and Jesus' birthday. 

- Helping Hands for Heroes is a non-profit based in Angier that sends care packages to deployed soldiers.

- Eastern NC Poverty Network needs your help providing Bibles, winter clothes, and prayer. 

- Operation Christmas Child is collecting boxes this week, and Campbell is a drop-off site! 

You can also check resources in your own area to discover a way to give back during the chilly season.

Happy holidays... for some.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the season is here-- candy galore, monthly feasts, curly ribbon, and chilly weather. The holidays.

Several things, including the ones mentioned above, are classic symbols of the American holiday season. But does every American associate the holiday season with such luxury and comfort?

If you wake up in a warm bed on Christmas day to the smell of breakfast in the kitchen, or if on the second day of Hanukkah you pull on clean clothes in a house with running water, the classic symbols ring true for you. However, Santa collects money for the Salvation Army for a reason, and it's not to take the burden of loose change off your hands.

This year Campbell is proud to be a drop-off site for the nationally recognized Operation Christmas Child, an arm of Christian aid organization Samaritan's Purse. The concept is effective, fun, and inexpensive-- you fill a shoe box with fun stuff for a child who may not be able to ravenously tear open gifts from under a tree. Check out the site for packing instructions and suggestions for what to buy. My personal suggestion is to hit up a Dollar Store to fill the box for very little money.

So, the call to action is two-fold: we need volunteers to process the boxes once the arrive to the Rumley Center, and we need volunteers to make the boxes. 

You can assemble one box or 100 boxes-- whatever your heart desires. A unique gift idea, in place of giving a tangible gift to a friend this Christmas, is to send the box in his or her name (similar to donation to a charity in someone's name).

The drop-off hours are:

Monday – Thursday                                                     Friday

10:30 – 1:00                                                                10:30 – 1:00

3:30 – 6:00                                                                  2:30 – 5:00

If you'd like to volunteer for one of those shifts, please e-mail Terry Tucker and let her know you first three shift choices.

Make this December 25 extra special by sending a child a Merry Christmas that you personally prepared.

Caring Camels are coming your way

Raise your hand if you've ever wanted to volunteer while in Buies Creek but didn't know how.

High five! After reading this post you'll know exactly how.

New to the service side of Campbell is Caring Camels, a cutesy name for a serious program that will help prospective tutors and mentors figure out which local tutoring or mentoring agency is right for them. To prevent saying the words "tutor" and "mentor" fifty times in one paragraph, we're going to refer to them as "volunteers."

Caring Camels manages a two-way relationship between the student body and the Harnett County education community. The program itself will manage profiles of and communication with local tutoring/mentoring organizations while at the same time matching volunteers with such organizations.

Scenario: Rachael wants to help elementary school students with math and knows about a couple local programs but is unsure what to do. Instead of chasing information in circles on Google, she comes to Caring Camels. After an application and get-to-know-you discussion, Caring Camels helps Rachael figure out that perhaps tutoring at either Buies Creek Elementary School or Baptist Fellowship of Angier would be best because 1. those organizations need math tutors, and 2. they need math tutors during hours that fit Rachael's schedule.

If you think volunteering to help local kids sounds like you but you're not sure of expectations or maybe you think tutoring is just for geeks, check out our in-house definitions:

Tutoring is academically based and a form of supplemental education. A tutor helps a student with material that he or she doesn’t understand in class and needs additional help with outside school hours. A tutor must not only have a mastery of the subject matter but also be able to explain it in a simplified form applicable to the student. A tutor must understand that tutoring is not about gaining for him or herself. It’s a selfless activity to build up the student and to help him or her carry and eventually release the burden of their academic struggle. In addition to teaching academic material a quality tutor will exhibit positive characteristics that exemplify a responsible adult: punctuality, encouragement to the student, a positive attitude, and consistence in attendance.

Mentoring is relationship based and a form of supplemental quality time. A mentor spends healthy quality time with a mentee when quality time at home is not available to the mentee for various reasons. A mentor must understand that mentoring is not about gaining for him or herself. It’s a selfless activity to build up the mentee and to help him or her carry and potentially release the burden of a possible personal struggle. A mentor must set aside time to focus on the mentee. A quality mentor will exhibit positive characteristics that exemplify a responsible adult: punctuality, encouragement to the mentee, a positive attitude, and consistence in attendance.

I'm sure you noticed some common threads. Whether you're helping a middle school student be baller on the court or showing a fourth grader how to do long division, you need to show up and lift up.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming publicity around campus, including via Facebook, everyone's favorite brain drainer.

Mentoring can also mean spending time with special needs adults at the annual BSU Spring Fling.

Busy as a bee

I can't believe it's been almost a month since Service Learning @ Campbell's last post! Time has flown and the last few weeks have been full of activities and blossoming ideas. Campbell students are in full swing, the football team has lost two games, and it's 95 degrees out with low humidity-- all signs that autumn is settling in Buies Creek.

Check out how faith, learning, and service have been excelling on campus:

- The first annual 9/11 Day of Service was a hit. Seventy students woke up early Saturday morning to give back in honor of the soldier(s) in their lives. All six projects went well and we can't wait to see what happens next year!

- The poverty miniseries is coming together. Speakers formerly in poverty or currently working with the impoverished will explore with us how poverty is more than just being poor. Check out the Facebook page for dates and times.

- If you want to get involved in tutoring or mentoring, you're at the right place at the right time. We're developing a service to help you figure out which organization is the best fit for you based on the mutual goals, schedules, and abilities of you and a tutoring or mentoring organization.


- Driving down Route 55 between Buies Creek and Angier will show you that it's picking season for North Carolina's migrant workers. The NC Farmworkers Project needs volunteers at its Thursday night clinics (May - October) to facilitate the clinics, present health information, translate, and just spend time with the migrant workers. If any of those activities are up your alley, give me a shout and we'll set you up to impact our community.


Lastly, as the temperatures cool and the holidays come around, I encourage you to step outside your own world and take a look at what others need. It could be something as simple as your neighbor needing a free babysitter for a night, or perhaps a family at church could use some help buying groceries this week. Or maybe, as we'll learn through the poverty miniseries, that needs related to poverty aren't always financial. Be a friend to the lady on your street who lives alone or be a role model to the too-skinny little kids always hanging out where they shouldn't be. Your purpose on earth is not to live for yourself.

This camel is also busy as a bee.

Snowballs in the summer

If you've been on campus recently you know that it exploded with activity and energy the day students moved back. When the students arrived my schedule immediately picked up speed, which I'm grateful for becuase it means the students want to be involved with serving the community.

My focus over the last two or three weeks has been hammering out the details of the 9/11 Day of Service, which is all over this blog and hopefully all over Facebook (see aforementioned link). I have a list of confirmed projects, flyers hot off the press, and over a dozen students signed up before the biggest wave of advertisements even goes out.

Every few days I learn of more entire groups of students who want to help out. Freshmen businesss students, a floor of a dorm, and an academic club have all volunteered to give back the morning of 9/11. 

All that to say-- quite frankly, I'm surprised that students are coming to me (and with such enthusiasm) instead of me going them. I thought I was going to have to pull teeth to have even decent attendance for the 9/11 Day of Service, not because I think students are self-centered, but because they have a life full of obligations to fulfill. The event has snowballed (in a good way) into something bigger than my organizational abilities and poster-making skills. 

(Hip, hip, hooray!)

As many students as we've had express interest, today I added another community partner to the list of service opportunities for 9/11. Local women's shelter S.A.F.E. of Harnett County needs a couple rooms and a fence painted. I personally have never even seen a women's shelter (which I think is the idea), and I'm hoping because of circumstances that lead to being in a shelter, our students haven't either. I think painting at the shelter, as "minor" a job it is, will offer students a glimpse into life most Americans only see on Law and Order or CSI.

My hope for the 9/11 Day of Service is that it's the pebble in the lake that enacts a powerful and unstoppable ripple effect of service.

9/11 Day of Service

The summer is slowly melting away, which means September is right around the corner!

Every September 11 we ask ourselves where we were on that day in 2001. This year, however, look forward to where you can be. Our first annual 9/11 Day of Service exists to honor the day and those who served on that day with service projects in the community.

Here's the list of opportunities:

Community-wide food drive: Help man the on-campus food collection location or manage one of the community collection locations to benefit the Food Bank of Harnett County.

Make cards for deployed soldiers: Local organization Helping Hands for Heroes needs our help making greeting cards for deployed soldiers. Show them how much you care!

Interior church painting: Baptist Fellowship of Angier could use a few new coats. Spend the morning beautifying a place of worship and working your arms!

Literacy awareness: Inform the community about the importance of literacy and literacy opportunities at Harnett Literacy by canvassing neighborhoods with flyers and brochures.

Quality time with the elderly: Spend the morning playing Bingo with and bringing joy to the residents of Brookfield Assisted Living.

Registration will begin at the UCM Expo Night and continue at the Info Desk until September 3. As always, feel free to contact me for more information.

Bearing the burdens of others

The notion of serving the community is a historical but growing one at Campbell. And by "growing" I mean mushroom clouding into something massive and, as I wrote in an earlier post, something bigger than ourselves.

I've spent the the majority of this week calling around to different area non-profits to see if they could use a few business students help out. Every organization I speak with is overjoyed that not only does someone know about them and want to help, but that the help is able bodied college students with camels on their shirts (everything's more fun when you have a camel on your shirt).

Some of these organizations have worked with Campbell during Operation Inasmuch. Some of the staff of these organizations went to Campbell or have a grandchild or second cousin at Campbell. Some just drive by every day wondering how many fountains one university can handle. Either way, it seems every soul in Harnett County has a Campbell connection that further edifies their enthusiasm to work with us.

I'm noticing a pattern in my dialogue with these grateful non-profits. They exist to serve their communities and to satisfy needs, but the organizations themselves have great needs. The ripple effect of service hasn't quite reached them.

Whether service from Campbell comes in the form of relief to the non-profit organization or directly to the population in need, our time and efforts should alleviate the burden of poverty and want in our small corner of the world.

Not just another day

The AmeriCorps VISTA program sponsors many service initiatives outside service learning. In addition to the MLK Day of Service (which Campbell already does) and the AmeriCorps Week of Service, this year we'll join VISTA campuses across the country in celebrating a day of service I didn't know existed until recently, despite being a news junkie.


Last year President Obama declared 9/11 a day of service in order to reflect on the period of history that prompted "...Americans to come together in a remarkable spirit of unity and compassion," according his call to service last August.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, a partner organization of AmeriCorps, supports the 9/11 Day of Service along with many others service organizations. 


I'm really excited about Campbell's first 9/11 Day of Service. Not only does Campbell have a strong military presence in its student body through the ROTC program, but we have three extended campuses on three bases: Fort Bragg, Campe Lejeune, and Pope Air Force Base.


This year's 9/11 Day of Service is just beginning to take shape, but here are a few highlights to peak your interest:

• The day will begin with an opening ceremony at the flagpole on campus.
• We're offering up the idea to students to commit to a service project in honor of a soldier they know.
• The service projects are local and diverse.

Below is a public service announcement from the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance promoting the day.


Lots of links to many different sites all about service, but the common thread is focusing to serve others on 9/11 in honor of those who serve us the other 364 days of the year.

In the beginning...

This real camel from
Welcome Week '09
is really pumped about
helping the community!

I'm proud to announce that Service Learning @ Campbell has arrived!


Mind you it's my first day on the job and all I've done is schedule meetings and try to figure out how to transfer calls. Baby steps.


We (Campus Ministries and myself) have spent the summer hammering out details and preparing as much as possible to take off on this adventure. We've read the books, Googled a few things and attended the workshops. 


Perhaps the most monumental baby step was attending AmeriCorps VISTA Pre-Service Orientation, four days of ice breakers, info sessions and really good food. It provided many points of clarity on a few questions Faithe and I had about this undertaking.


The one huge lesson with which I returned to Raleigh was this:


Our work is bigger than ourselves.


This year's goals are more than just convincing college students to want to help out. It's not just being nice to our Spanish-speaking neighbors.


On the local level the work we do in the coming months and years will ripple out in ways we may never discover. In an even bigger picture, over 7,000 VISTAs all over the country are executing anti-poverty initiatives that together will weave a cloth of hope and success for our fellow Americans, impoverished or not.


Check back for more frequent updates to the life and times of Service Learning @ Campbell.

Two scoops of service, please.

Tonight the university is wrapping up orientation season. Every incoming freshman has learned very briefly how to find the library, how to find dinner, and most importantly-- how to serve.


We had 500 smiling faces and eager hands preparing 20,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now. New to the orientation line up was a special local project to assemble backpacks full of food and school supplies for elementary school students under the wings of the Baptist Fellowship of Angier.


While the service projects aren't the definition of service learning, they give students a taste of service and get them thinking about it. The projects are the tip of the service learning iceberg.


The Class of 2014 will be the first class to enter Campbell with the service learning program. Together, the students and program will grow up together in Buies Creek. I've watched the incoming class and am incredibly hopeful that service learning at Campbell will flourish through these 1,000 bright and passionate students.


I spoke to the parents again and offered the same words I did at the first orientation session. My shaky public speaking abilities always extinguish any fantasies that parents will run up to me, asking for my autograph and rounding off questions about service learning. A few parents, however, did catch me during lunch to say they appreciated my schpiel. I don't say that to brag about myself-- I say it to point out that when parents think something is important, they're going to tell their kids about it.


Now that the entire freshman class knows kind of what service learning is, the next step is to develop the concept among them and tend to our mustard seed of a program.

Above (left to right) incoming  Campbell freshmen pack food bags for Stop Hunger now, prepare backpacks, and seal the bags for Stop Hunger Now. The 500 students packed 20,000 bags and prepared 200 bags of food and 40 backpacks to touch people across town and around the world.

Here ye, here ye: service learning @ orientation

Today Campbell hosted 500 incoming freshman and 1,000 of their parents at the summer's first orientation session. As part of the Campus Ministry presentation, I spoke (a million miles a minute) about the service learning program and how it will benefit the incoming freshman. Below is what I prepared to write and stuck to mostly.

Good morning, tired and overheated parents. I’m going to tell you a little bit about myself and then give you some details about a new Campus Ministries program your child will be hearing a lot about in the coming months and years.

I spent the first 18 years of life in rural Massachusetts before ending up at Campbell thanks to a fruitful Google search. I graduated in May with a degree in Communication Studies, and how I ended up staying at Campbell is a story for another day.

So, down to business. This freshman class has arrived in Buies Creek at a pivotal time in Campbell history. While the physical landscape of Campbell is more obviously changing, behind the scenes is a brand new program designed to give your young adult the opportunity to serve the community while participating in hands-on application of his or her studies.

Service learning at Campbell is a result of years of various members of the Campbell community reaching out to Harnett County. Serving others in combination with excellence in education is an inherent Campbell characteristic, so much so that it’s in our mission statement. I’d like to give you an example from Scripture that fuels my heart for service and passion for the fledgling service learning program.

As I read from Mark 10, keep in mind the ideas of service and note what we can learn from this passage.

The Request of James and John



Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."


"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

There are two big lessons here, the more obvious and more common being that we should exemplify Jesus’ message of servant leadership. In looking at James and John, however, we can see that they wanted to benefit from their association with Jesus. Instead they should have looked to benefit others through their association with Jesus.

So, what does this millennia-old conversation have to do with Campbell’s new service learning program? Later this afternoon I’m going to offer a challenge to your children that they seek to serve others through their association with Campbell instead of serving just themselves. Your child is here to receive an education that someone is paying for your child to appreciate and take advantage of. That education, however, can be more than text books, exams, and developing an addiction to coffee. It can include your son or daughter reaching out to the Campbell community to use their gifts to leave Harnett County better than when they arrived here today.

To learn more about the service learning program, you can speak with me or check out whereserviceexcels.blogspot.com. Thank you for your time and I’ll be seeing you around!

After today's activities I'm reflecting on how to most efficiently "orient" someone to the concept of and ideas behind service learning. Its purpose is simple but its history and how we accomplish it successfuly are intricate. Then again, so are all the other great ideas I can think of. Recycling, salvation, baking bread-- all accomplish a to-the-point result but require an advanced understanding of the process.

Above, some of the 500 students help pack meals for Stop Hunger Now. Over two hours, the students packed a total of 20,00 meals. Picture by Tyler Cashwell.

Faith, learning... and mustard?

Think about a high point in your life. Chances are that event or phase was a result of ideal conditions that coalesced at just the right time. In the life of Campbell University, its new service learning program is one of those rare, magical advents that has the opportunity to take advantage of perfect conditions for growth.

In case you hadn't noticed, this isn't an educational post like the first two, but you should keep reading anyway. I'm going to tell you how Campbell is the perfect institution for service learning to take seed and flourish. More importantly, hopefully my handy dandy list will further persuade you to shout from the rooftops and write happy jingles about the service learning program and the impact it will make on the community.

1. Service is nothing new at Campbell. Ask around and you'll find out about clubs, departments, and individual students who have endeavored and succeeded in applying their studies to serving and changing the community. We like service so much it's in the mission statement.

2. Service learning at Campbell is organic. It wasn't a demand from someone in a tailored suit. It's been a hopeful whisper over the last few years, but now we're preaching it for all to hear. It's a centralized effort executed by the students and faculty with leadership by the students and faculty.

3. Campbell is a liberal arts institution. That doesn't mean we paint and vote for Democrats all day. It means Campbell wants students to receive a holistic education that includes knowledge outside the classroom, including how to use a moral and ethical compass.

4. Campbell is a faith-based institution. If you speak Christian-ese, you know exactly what this part means. If you haven't picked up the slang of the Christian sub-culture, No. 4 means Campbell's goals are motivated by spiritual endeavors. For example, following Jesus' many challenges to serve others.

Those are just the most obvious beneficial conditions that come to mind. Others include willing students, selfless faculty, and a culture of inward and outward change.

I pray we can plant our mustard seed successfuly and patiently watch the mustard tree grow in beauty and grace.

Let's make Merriam and Webster proud

What words or images do you associate with service learning? I initially linked it to helping in a soup kitchen, picking up trash, and other "work for free" and service-heavy ideas.

While service learning certainly is akin to other service-related concepts, it's a lion of its own and I'd like to take you through a few definitions (from this book) that will clarify what service learning is and how it's unique from other kinds of service.

Volunteerism: activities carried out by individuals of their own free will that benefit others and that are not compensated.

- The emphasis in volunteerism is placed on service, not learning.

Community service: a contribution of time and labor to address human and community needs. It may be based on a mandated requirement or extrinsic reward.

- The emphasis in community service is on service, not learning.

As you can see, the terms we easily associate with service learning are similar in concept but very different in application.

Service learning: a strategy for learning course content and developing social consciousness.

- Themes in the world of service learning are: collaboration with the community, reflection on service, active learning, explicit connections between service and the curriculum, and the development of students' civic and social responsibility.

In short, service learning at its best is a perfectly balanced melding of a hands-on lesson from the curriculum that betters the community through the students' service.

The basics

Campbell's brand spankin' new service learning program is tearing open a new chapter in university history. How service learning came to be and how it ended up at Campbell is a long story that probably requires colorful illustrations, so I'll brief you.

Service learning is the ultimate way to accomplish two intertwined goals:

1. Community engagement

2. Hands-on academic lesson

Basically, service learning is taking lessons from a class and applying them in a sustainable service project. By "sustainable," I mean long-term and self-replenishing.

Campbell has a history of service that any proud Camel will be happy to tell you about. The new service learning program is a culmination of years of clubs, departments, and individual students reaching out to touch the untouchables of Harnett County.

A program in its infancy has a lot to gain and a lot to lose, but I have complete confidence that the program will flourish and prove to onlookers the impact a dedicated university can have on one rural county in the Sandhills of North Carolina.

- Sara McCarthy
Campbell University Service Learning VISTA
sara.melinda.mccarthy@gmail.com