By Anna Williams

According to the University of Louisville (U of L), the university takes its “mission to service the [Louisville] community seriously and strive[s] to provide varied opportunities” for its students to serve.

The university’s mission scratches the surface of U of L’s commitment to connecting students to the Louisville community. The university has dedicated two days of service, SOUL Service Day and MLK Day of Service, in each semester of the school year for students to participate in.

I, along with so many other U of L students, have had a servant’s heart instilled in us from the moment we walked on campus. It excites me to know that many of us will continue our good Samaritan acts after college and that we have learned how transformative service is from our university.

Crowley (top right) and other McConnell Scholars volunteering at the 2023 Louisville Jack O’Lantern Spectacular. Photo Courtesy // McConnell Center

U of L students giving back

One service site for U of L students is The Rosewater bookstore, a volunteer-powered bookstore that gives back to South Louisvillians in crisis. This non-profit organization has built a reliance on U of L students’ time and service to be impactful in the Louisville community.

“Student volunteers are vital to keeping the store and our mission alive,” said Courtney Kearney, the facilitator at The Rosewater bookstore.

There are over 400 organizations at the University of Louisville, and most of them have service leaders who commit their time to unite their organizations and serve the Louisville community.

One of those service leaders is Megan Crowley, the Service Chair of the McConnell Scholars Program’s Council.

“U of L promotes service on an institutional level: the students and faculty I’ve encountered at this University treat community service as an obligation, rather than an option,” said Crowley. “As a student, participating in service has allowed me to better understand and connect with the people and the city around me.”

For example, GRRAND

I have been volunteering with the Golden Retriever Rescue and Adoption of Needy Dogs (GRRAND) for three years now. The pups at this shelter have not only given me a routine service site but have also offered a community for me to engage in.

I would walk the dogs around the same time as an older couple that would offer me mentorship as a Louisvillian— giving me tips on where else to go to serve and what community events were available for me to engage in. We developed a bond that I wouldn’t have otherwise made if I hadn’t served at this Louisville-based dog shelter.

Me and sweet GG after a nice, morning walk at GRRAND. Photo Courtesy // Anna Williams

Serving as a student is a privilege

Because of U of L’s proactive approach to getting students connected through service in the Louisville community, students experience a potential 8.5% increase in mental health benefits and have a 27% higher chance of being employed after college. These are excellent odds when considering the purpose of a university is to bring up students into healthy, productive adults.

For most students, it’s a matter of getting a degree and transitioning into the professional field. U of L goes against this grain and makes it a priority to connect students to their community through the most selfless acts available to all humans.

My college experience, like countless others, has been imprinted for the better due to my service experience at U of L. The commitment to connecting students to the Louisville community through service is one aspect of the university that makes me immensely proud to be a Cardinal.

Photo Courtesy // University of Louisville