by Martha I. Fernandez
Features Editor
Earn money, learn leadership skills and touch a few lives—these are not characteristics any summer job can grant, except for one—Summer Service.
Since 1957 this program has offered University of La Verne students the opportunity to serve a community and experience personal growth with the possibility of traveling to a different state or environment.
Applicants must have a cumulative 2.5 grade point average to apply. Other qualifications such as past experience with volunteer work is also helpful.
Judy Georges, campus minister, has been the director of summer service for the past five years. Georges said she is especially looking for people who have background experience in the Christian church, but also welcomes members from other faiths.
“Summer Service sounds great and is great. But, it is hard work and sometimes it is painful work,” said Georges. “There are parts of yourself that you might see that you wish you hadn’t.”
Students chosen for the volunteer work receive free room and board for 10 weeks at the site of their service. The period of time the student will work is negotiated between the student and the site. In addition, a weekly $50 stipend and a $2,500 scholarship are given to the student. The scholarship goes through financial aid and is donated by the Christian Leadership Endowment Fund.
“These are monies that come directly from donors who are interested in seeing our students develop church leadership skills and that’s why I emphasize the church background.
“The donors who give the money are not looking to train anybody to do anything. They’re specifically interested in cultivating future church leadership,” said Georges.
Volunteers can work in three different types of sites—the church site, camp site or social services site.
At the church site, volunteers prepare youth programs, do general office work and might work at a social service agency the church is involved with.
Many church sites are Brethren, but other faiths do participate. The program has worked with the Presbyterian and Catholic churches. There is only one Catholic site, but Georges is working to add another.
“One of my goals for the future is to increase the number of Catholic sites. We have a lot of Catholic students who apply to the program and feel they want to do their volunteer work in the Catholic church context, so they can explore their own faith and I agree with that,” said Georges.
A camp site would require someone to counsel youth (up to the high school age), cook and perform maintenance. If the volunteer has a special skill, that person might be asked to coordinate related activities.
Social service agency duties vary according to the organization. Convalescent homes, shelters for the homeless or high risk youths are possible sites.
Sites participating are generally found throughout California, Oregon and Washington. This limited territory is due to financial expenses.
“The student when they are selected understand that it is their responsibility to get to and from the site,” said Georges.
Usually, 15 students are chosen. The number is dependent on the number of sites that apply.
Georges hopes those returning in the fall will not only have a great volunteer service experience, but will have dealt with issues they identified, prior to leaving, as things they wanted to work on.
She said she would be pleased, “If the student has learned how to communicate more clearly and has learned something about their own relationship with God and how they want to continue to develop their own spirituality. Also, valuing and believing in service to others. If anyone of those happen, I’m a happy director,” said Georges.
For further information, contact Rev. Judy Georges at the Chapel or ext. 4320.
