Neumann students launch school year with morning of service
CHESTER » School wasn’t back in session yet for students at Drexel Neumann Academy, but the school building at 1901 Potter St. was bustling with activity Friday morning. Students from Neumann University in Aston Township were busy on their own first day at school, screwing chairs onto cafeteria tables, stuffing backpacks with new school supplies and weeding the playground.
The college students’ service helped to prepare the school for when Drexel Neumann Academy students begin their school year on Sept. 6.
More than 350 of the 385 Neumann University firstyear students, led by school faculty, staff and upperclassmen, participated in the required morning of community service that traditionally launches students’ first year on campus. Volunteers scattered across Delaware County and into Wilmington to offer their service at 20 schools and nonprofit organizations. In addition to their work at Drexel Neumann Academy, students volunteered their services at Catholic Social Services and the Unity Center in Chester’ Tyler Arboretum; Providence Animal Shelter; St. James Regional Catholic School in Ridley Park; Our Lady of Angels Regional Catholic School in Morton; Fair Acres; the Boys and Girls Club of Chester; Newlin Grist Mill, and many other sites.
Emily McDevitt of Cinnaminson, N.J., was a backpack stuffer who said that she really liked her volunteer experience at Drexel Neumann.
“I have never done service at a school before,” the freshman education major said. “At first I felt that it was really sad to see that some kids might not even have the basic supplies that they need to start the school year. Once I started stuffing the backpacks, I got really happy again, thinking how people are giving and caring to make sure the kids have what they need.”
Julia Casson of Wilmington, Del., also helped with the backpack stuffing detail.
“Volunteering to help here made me realize that some kids don’t automatically get new school supplies like I always did. It made me feel really good to be a part of this volunteer opportunity and be able to help.”
Dr. Chris Domes, Neumann’s new president, stopped by Drexel Neumann Academy with his wife, Mary. It was the fourth site that they had visited Friday morning. Earlier, the couple had stopped to see students at Neumann’s Mirenda Center making “Snowman’s Soup” that they were going to ship to soldiers, watched students clean trucks at Aston Fire Company and visited students cleaning up at the Marine Corps League in Brookhaven. When they left Drexel Neumann, they went on their way to check out a few more active service locations.
“The central part of Neumann’s mission is serving others,” Domes explained. “Service creates a wonderful way of life for our students and teaches them the importance and value of giving of themselves in a community. This day is important because our students work side by side and get to know each other, while feeling good about the service that they’re providing.”
This is the third year that the day of service was part of Welcome Weekend for both commuters and residents at Neumann. The activity is in keeping with the university’s Franciscan tradition, which emphasizes service to others.
Neumann University, a private Roman Catholic, co-educational liberal arts college, has 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for the 2017-18 school year. Its undergraduate studentfaculty ratio is 14:1.
“Service is one of Neumann’s core values,” stated Megan Camp, director of Service-Learning and Community Engagement at the university. “This day of service not only begins the students on a path to give of themselves and serve, but it helps them to bond and get to know one another and also to see what volunteer opportunities are out here in the local community.”
“This service opportunity was amazing,” gushed Gabriella Smith of Philadelphia, a freshman student at Neumann who is living on campus. “I screwed seats to the benches in the cafeteria so the students would have places to sit when they eat lunch this year. I felt good about doing something useful here and I will definitely help out again!”
When the new students returned to Neumann’s campus, they received their first College 101 class to discuss the importance of community service.
“Every student who takes part in the day of service, returns to campus to reflect on that service with a faculty member,” Camp said. “Everyone seemed so happy. We had a beautiful day. The weather was perfect and we have heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone who participated.”
Louise Whitelaw, assistant professor of Education at Neumann University, was among the faculty who coordinated the service outing to Drexel Neumann. She said many students at Neumann help out on a regular basis throughout the school year at Drexel Neumann Academy, doing after-school tutoring, coaching sports, fulfilling education field hours, and in other ways.
“The freshmen will do service throughout their four years at Neumann,” Whitelaw explained. “Service is built into the Neumann mission. There are ways that students in every major can help out here and at all of the other places visited by Neumann students today. The idea is to instill the desire to serve in our students so that they will go out into their communities to make a positive difference, no matter what their profession might be. We want to educate our students to be the ethical leaders of tomorrow.”
Camp said that any organization, school or nonprofit in the community that may have volunteer opportunities for students throughout the school year can contact her at 610-558-5539 or e-mail campm@neumann. edu/.