(September 4, 2015)
Centenary students give back during annual service day
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College's first-year students recently partnered with local non-profit service organizations during the College's third annual World House Service Day on Friday, August 28. More than 150 students worked on service projects alongside representatives from community partners Shreveport Green, Community Renewal International, Common Ground, and the Fuller Center for Housing of Northwest Louisiana.
"I loved that we got to help the Shreveport community during the service day," said freshman John Curtis Creed of Baton Rouge, a World House for Social Justice resident. "I love Shreveport — it was one of the reasons I chose to come to Centenary. If I can do anything to help another person out, I am happy. I also like the fact that the service day is part of orientation because we are coming together as a freshman class, and this is a great time for us to get to know each other while helping our community."
Centenary President David Rowe was on hand to welcome students at the College's Kilpatrick Auditorium before they departed in groups for several service sites around the city. Rowe also later joined students in projects at the Fuller Grocery and a Community Renewal International Friendship House.
"With the implementation of the World House initiative and its corresponding service day which has become an important part of our campus tradition, Centenary students have the opportunity to give back to the community immediately upon their entry into college life," said LaToya Hemphill, Assistant Director for Community Engagement. "Students not only get to learn more about the area surrounding our campus but also gain a greater understanding of the work that our community partners do in our community."
Incoming Centenary students are matched to one of three World House residential communities that integrate coursework and community service in an intentional response to a specific 21st century global challenge, as identified by the Centenary faculty.
Centenary's World Houses for Social Justice, Environmental Sustainability, and Peace coordinate educational and social activities, service, and academic experiences that address the global challenges of living a meaningful life, living a sustainable life, and expanding students' circles of relationships. The World House residential communities play an integral role in Centenary's intentional approach to developing leaders for a changing 21st century world.
After their first year at the College, students have the opportunity to deepen their commitment to exploring 21st century challenges through Living Learning Communities (LLCs). LLCs build on the foundation laid in the World Houses, bringing together faculty, students, and community members to identify specific problems, understand their complexities, and formulate solutions.
The 2015-2016 academic year marks the first time that each World House plays host to at least one LLC, with the new MENA (Middle East and North Africa) community joining the existing Le Quartier Français, Node, GreenHouse, and Santé. Each World House also boasts a Faculty-in-Residence this year.
World House Service Day is the first opportunity for new students to put learning into action in service to others, helping them connect with their new community home in Shreveport and setting the tone for four years of intentional leadership development at Centenary.