FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 20, 2017
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—True to its commitment to service, Tarleton State University plans a full week of activities, appropriately called Service Week, beginning April 1. The week includes the university’s legendary Round Up, a 24-hour online giving program and community service projects tied to classroom learning.
“Service is one of Tarleton’s core values, and we take great pride in giving back to Stephenville and our outreach communities,” said President F. Dominic Dottavio. “Students, faculty and staff join hearts and hands during this special week to help make life better for our friends and neighbors.”
The week kicks off Saturday, April 1, with Tarleton’s 19th annual Round Up—a single-day, student-led, student-initiated project held in conjunction with Keep Stephenville Beautiful. Students, faculty and staff will roll up their sleeves to help local residents with everything from cleaning windows to general lawn and garden work.
Last year, nearly 1,600 students, faculty and staff completed 150 projects in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco and Midlothian.
Tarleton’s second Day of Giving, designed as a way for the entire university family—including alumni and friends—to pay it forward for students takes place Tuesday, April 4. Donations are tax deductible.
Participants can give gifts of any size to a Tarleton college, program or activity. To give online, go to www.tarleton.edu/givingday/ between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. To give in person, stop by the Barry B. Thompson Student Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or the Alumni House from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Donations also can be dropped off at Tarleton’s outreach locations in Fort Worth, Midlothian and Waco.
Texans turn what they learn in the classroom into opportunities to offer help on Thursday, April 6, for Tarleton’s Service Day. For example, education majors will lend a hand at Stephenville High School, and accounting students will prepare free tax returns for qualified individuals.
Service Day is part of efforts by Tarleton’s Center for Academic Outreach and Engagement (AOE) to build a culture of social responsibility by connecting academic programs with community needs. To help Tarleton faculty increase and launch service-learning courses, AOE has established the Engaged Scholars Academy. The academy helps faculty promote citizenship and community involvement.
Last year, more than 3,600 students volunteered more than 12,000 hours as part of Tarleton’s Service Day.
“Service learning experiences move students beyond the classroom, providing opportunities for them to apply academic knowledge to real-world situations,” said Dr. Denae Dorris, AOE director. “Service learning enhances comprehension of course content while fostering a sense of social responsibility.
“Service Day, along with Tarleton’s strong and longstanding commitment to community support, positions the university to achieve Carnegie Community Engagement Classification,” she said. The classification recognizes universities that show a sustainable commitment to volunteer service and use school resources for public good.
For more information on Service Week, visit www.tarleton.edu/weekofservice.
Tarleton, a member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. With campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of integrity, leadership, tradition, civility, excellence and service.
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Contacts:
Round Up
Erin Warner, Coordinator of Student Leadership Programs
254-968-9256
[email protected]
Day of Giving
Jennifer Hawthorne, Director of Development
254-968-1756
[email protected]
Service Day
Dr. Denae Dorris, Director of Academic Outreach & Engagement
254-968-1990
[email protected]
