Community service is an important part of the college experience for many Ohio Northern University students.

Each year, approximately 1,500 ONU students are engaged in about 50,000 hours of community service in Ada.

“Community service can add much to a student’s college experience. For example, students often gain a sense that the world is a bigger place than they imagined and there are a lot of different people in the world,” said the Rev. David MacDonald, ONU’s chaplain.

 Both the volunteers and those being helped benefit from these efforts.

 “I understand now how, in the area surrounding ONU, the smallest help or time given to a school, business or other group can help them accomplish things that were on hold or impossible before,” Pesetsky, a student volunteer leader, said. “Many of the places we’ve helped have expressed how needed our help was for them to get things done.”

“I realize how much Northern has done for me, and I wanted to give back in a way that was different,” said Jess Keller, who teamed up with Pesetsky to organize the LOVE Day community service project. “With ONU located in a small town, it is important to engage in the community and get to know people who live in the same town.”

“Student volunteers have the opportunity to be part of a greater community that extends beyond campus,” said Jennifer Lambdin, ONU director of student involvement.

Beyond the service component, students gain competencies that will help them throughout their lives and careers, such as teamwork, leadership, networking, and interacting with students of other academic majors and organizations.

Pesetsky said, “I have learned how to manage numerous and significant responsibilities at the same time. I have gained experience leading and being a part of groups, specifically being able to trust others with projects I am invested in.”

Among notable community services endeavors at ONU include:
• ACE Day
• LOVE Day
• The campus Habitat for Humanity chapter

ACE (Ada Community Engagement) Day, which is held during the fall semester’s opening weekend, allows new students to jump in and get involved in their college home through community service projects.

LOVE Day is similar but is held in the spring and includes more upper-class students. Both involve University faculty and staff members as well as students.

PHOTO: ONU freshman student Joy Yancy takes part in ACE Day