ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Ouachita Baptist University’s semi-annual Tiger Serve Day attracted a record number of volunteers Saturday, Sept. 25.
The student-led community service blitz is sponsored by Ouachita’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family & Community. Saturday’s event included 920 students, faculty and staff members serving on more than 80 teams and completing 100 projects for individuals, families, churches and organizations throughout the Arkadelphia area.
The 920 volunteers shattered the previous record of 707 volunteers who served earlier this year in the spring 2010 Tiger Serve Day. This semester’s Tiger Serve Day involvement represents more than 60 percent of Ouachita’s fall enrollment of 1,503 students.
The community service effort, which began following the tornado that hit Arkadelphia in March 1997, is marking its 14th year of service. During that time, volunteers have logged more than 44,000 hours of community service.
“Tiger Serve Day teams volunteer to do jobs ranging from painting and window washing to raking, mowing and cleaning up yards for families and individuals throughout the area,” noted Judy Duvall, assistant director of the Elrod Center.
“Students have a unique opportunity to meet people in the community and meet real needs,” she added. “Showing the love of God to individuals in practical ways is certainly a goal of Tiger Serve Day.”
Tiger Serve Day “is a way to give back, to help others, to express thanks and to be a responsible citizen,” said Ian Cosh, Ouachita’s vice president for community and international engagement.
“Volunteers are also encouraged to form relationships with the individuals they serve and to return to help throughout the semester if help is needed,” Duvall said. “Although the practical help given on Tiger Serve Day is certainly appreciated by the recipients, the day is about more than just completing projects; it is about forming relationships and caring for others.”
Tiger Serve Day is organized and run by a student leadership team that includes 18 students who do the publicity, recruitment, visit project sites, buy tools and help generate energy for the day among fellow students.
“They are a remarkable group of students that have a heart to serve and exhibit strong leadership skills,” Duvall said.
“Tiger Serve Day is such a great way for Ouachita students to be able to get involved and serve others,” said leadership team member Emily Morgan, a junior accounting major from Mountain Home, Ark. “By being on the leadership team, I have the opportunity to help plan and organize the day.”
In recognition of Tiger Serve Day and other service-oriented emphases, Ouachita has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for three consecutive years. Being named to the national honor roll is the highest federal recognition a university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.
“I am so pleased that the word ‘service’ is on our university seal,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “I am most proud that service is a part of the DNA of Ouachita. The commitment of students, faculty and staff to serve children through senior adults is exemplary.”
Ouachita Baptist University, a private Christian liberal arts university in Arkadelphia, also was recently named the No. 1 Regional College in the South by U.S. News & World Report for the fourth year in a row. Serving since 1886 as a Christ-centered learning community, Ouachita seeks to foster a love of God and a love of learning.
For more information about Ouachita, call 1-800-DIAL-OBU or visit the university website at www.obu.edu. For more information about Tiger Serve Day, contact Judy Duvall at duvallj@obu.edu.
