NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University students have logged 93,715 service hours this academic year, exceeding the goal of 90,0000 service hours set by President Baker Pattillo in honor of SFA's 90th anniversary.
"As we celebrate our 90th year, it seems appropriate that we do so by acknowledging the tremendous impact our students make on this city, state, nation and world," said Dr. Adam Peck, assistant vice president for university affairs and dean of student affairs. "The impressive commitment that our students have made through their service to others is evidence of that impact."
Service hours were reported to the Office of Student Engagement via an online form and were tracked by leadership and service programs staff. Volunteer hours performed by individual students and student organizations were counted toward the total.
"Over the past five years, it has been rewarding to see our students engaging in service that helps their community and their university," Jamie Bouldin, assistant director for student engagement for leadership and service, said. "In honor of such an important year for our school, it's especially rewarding to see students work together to meet this goal."
The Office of Student Engagement rewards students for their service hours by participating in the President's Volunteer Service Award program. This year, 121 students and 45 registered student organizations qualified for a PVSA. Individuals and organizations must exceed 100 or 200 service hours, respectively, in a 12-month period in order to earn a PVSA. The awards were presented at the 8th annual ODK Leadership and Service Awards in April.
"In 2012-13, only 85 individuals and 19 organizations earned PVSAs, so it was exciting to see this 90,000-hour goal inspire more students and more groups to take part in service projects," Bouldin said.