Service In Action with Skylar

Transcript

Service is a core value here at OLLU, and here to share what that means to her is Skylar, a recent graduate from OLLU from Eagle River, Alaska. Community service and engagement are integral parts of the OLLU experience. The university encourages students to participate in service learning projects and volunteer opportunities. Skylar, we can’t wait to hear how you have helped your community. Take it away.

– Thanks, Alex. And hi, everybody! My college journey began like that of many high school athletes. A coach recruited me and offered me a spot on the inaugural Our Lady of the Lake University Spirit Team. All of my involvement became service-oriented, and service is a core value of OLLU. Cheering introduced me to campus life and I joined Kappa Delta Chi which promotes unity, honesty, integrity, and leadership among women. With the support of my cheer sisters, my sorority sisters, and my coworkers, I created a program that grew and impacted a lot of people. It’s called Rags to Riches. The inspiration for this project came from personal observation. At the end of every semester, I noticed a lot of clothes and personal items of my friends wound up in a dumpster. I thought, “I bet someone could benefit from this.” So, I rounded up some bins and created a donation drive. Instead of throwing things away, students began to donate. The response was amazing and the generosity overwhelming. The first year, I filled up three truck beds full of items. The second year, we filled a full trailer. The third year, I had to rent a U-Haul to fit all the donations. Giving became infectious. Everybody wanted to donate. Everything collected was donated to the local women’s shelter. Many of our classes include a service learning component that lets us put our coursework into action by helping area non-profits. I never dreamed Rags to Riches would take off the way it did. I’m proud to have served and created a project at OLLU and can’t wait to see what’s next. That’s all from me. Back to you, Alex.

– Skylar, you are a rock star! We can’t imagine what Rags to Riches will look like in a few years. By providing access to clothing and professional attire, you’re helping your community feel empowered, and prepared to pursue career opportunities, and succeed in life. Thank you for sharing and keep up the amazing work.