By Olivia Simms As part of the McNicholas graduation requirements, every student is responsible for 40 total hours of community service. Of those 40 hours, 20 hours must be completed by sophomore year and 20 hours before the student’s senior service presentation. Junior and senior students must include working with the underserved.
In the past, many students have completed their volunteer hours with clubs at McNicholas: St. Vincent dePaul, Hands Across Campus, and Catholic Relief Services. These groups offer opportunities all year round. Mrs. Mary Beth Sandmann, Theology Department chair and a member of the Mission and Ministry Team, said, “Service is such a strong characteristic of who we are.”
Community service helps to bring communities closer together as one. Many people are not as fortunate as others. Sandmann added, “Serve those who are underserved, those who are facing difficulties in life, those who might need a little bit more support in some way, or someone experiencing homelessness in some way.”
Besides those clubs, there are also many other opportunities within McNicholas for volunteering. For example, being a Student Ambassador. A Student Ambassador represents McNicholas and is a leader for their peers. Student Ambassadors host during shadow days, answer questions from other students or families about McNicholas, and give tours of the school. May We Help is an Engerineering club at McNicholas where students find people in need and “help design and build [products] to help them,” stated senior Ben Jones. In the past, McNicholas students have built a ramp for a woman unable to use stairs. Students can also volunteer across the street at Guardian Angels during their fish fries during Lent, with their food pantry, and with after care. To contact this organization, search “Guardian Angels Food Pantry” then click “volunteer” and fill out the required information. Another opportunity close to McNicholas especially for students who don’t drive is The Southeastern Ecumenical Ministries (SEM) pantry which is located at 2020 Beechmont Ave. The SEM Pantry offers food that is not prepacked, but rather clients choose their own food to create a more comforting atmosphere. To contact this organization, search “The Southeastern Ecumenical Ministries pantry,” click “contact,” then fill out the required information.
Once students have completed service hours it is important to document them. In order to turn in the student’s service hours, the student must search “X2vol.” Then look at the top right corner and click join. After clicking join, it should say complete registration. Next it should show a search bar. Lastly, search “McNicholas” and proceed to fill out the information. After the student submits the hours and states their act of service, Mr. Jeff Hutchinson-Smyth will go through the request and notify the student if it is not approved.
The McNicholas Milestone 