VSLC reception honors Class of 2024 members bound for full-time service
Members of the Class of 2024 who have committed to full-time, post-graduate service work were honored on May 10 by 涩里番下载鈥檚 Volunteer and Service Learning Center at a celebration on the back lawn of the Hovey House.
Some 25 graduates attended the annual VSLC聽 event, each of them bringing along one person鈥攆aculty, staff, or fellow student鈥攚ho they felt strongly supported them during their discernment process. As a tradition, those attending the reception gather in a large circle, where the graduates-to-be talk about their upcoming volunteer experiences, and guests of the honorees contribute words of encouragement.
VSLC Associate Director Kate Daly called the event 鈥渁 great opportunity for students to share their plans and to hear what other peers are up to as well.鈥� Many of the 66 volunteer organizations listed on the VSLC鈥檚 website are represented at 涩里番下载鈥檚 Post-Grad Volunteer Fair that takes place every fall at the beginning of the academic year. Still, she noted, there are usually several organizations that tend to be most popular among students, such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), Amate House, St. Joseph鈥檚 Worker Program, Red Cloud Indian School, and the Peace Corps.
One such JVC volunteer is Max Manalang 鈥�24, whose mother worked for the same organization when she was his age. JVC鈥檚 mission is to connect with local communities to foster 鈥渢he formation of young people dedicated to a faith that promotes justice.鈥�
Volunteer Service Learning Center Associate Director Kate Daly (second from right) talks with members of the Class of 2024 committed to post-graduate service work, at the reception held in their honor. (Lee Pellegrini)
鈥淛VC changed my mom鈥檚 life,鈥� said Manalang, whose placement is at Philadelphia VIP, which connects people with low incomes to pro bono legal services. 鈥淪he鈥檚 still best friends with all of the people she volunteered with. She was so happy when we found out I was going to be doing the program that she reached out immediately to tell all of them.鈥�
Manalang, who attended a Jesuit high school, said his four years at 涩里番下载 majoring in economics and philosophy instilled strong Jesuit values in him that inspired him to pursue full-time volunteer work: 鈥溕锓略� has taught me how to be a man for others beyond my college years.鈥�
Standing beside Manalang at the reception was Margaret Doheny 鈥�24, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics and theology and will work with JVC Northwest in Boise, Idaho.
鈥淢ax鈥檚 connection to JVC is much more sentimental than mine,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut the influence of service around me at 涩里番下载 has had a very powerful effect on me. It鈥檚 as simple as that.鈥�
John Clark 鈥�24 signed on with the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) as a teaching fellow and this summer will begin his two-year stint as American and global history teacher at a Catholic high school in Anaheim, Calif. In addition to his family and Catholic education, he cited his participation with 4Boston and Appalachia Volunteers as formative factors during his time at 涩里番下载.
鈥淚 knew I wanted to be a part of a post-grad service program, especially one committed to education, community, and spirituality,鈥� said Clark, who majored in political science. 鈥淎s someone who has had incredible teachers and mentors growing up, I hope to be that same figure for my students next year.鈥�
In a short speech that wrapped up the celebration, Daly commended the future graduates for the 鈥渃ounter-cultural and unique鈥� experience on which they are about to embark. 鈥淭hese are challenging and exciting times ahead of you, and know that the VSLC is here to support you well after your volunteer years.鈥�
Established in 2003, the VSLC assists members of the University community in seeking part- or full-time volunteer opportunities on campus or in the Greater Boston area. The center鈥檚 website is聽bc.edu/vslc.