Baylor > Parents League > Service and Leadership
In This Issue

Serving. Leading. Learning.

Mission statements are often just words on a page, but at Baylor, our mission impacts everything we do. Service and leadership, partnered with an education that is steeped in academic excellence and Christian commitment, are critical to the education that students receive at Baylor. And it's a commitment that has spanned Baylor's rich history since its founding in 1845.

As a vital part of this mission, Baylor continually engages students in service and community outreach. From annual traditions like Steppin' Out to ongoing leadership in campus-based programs, opportunities abound for students to incorporate service into their Baylor experience.

"Service is important to college students and their development because it helps them understand their role within a community and see how they can contribute their individual gifts and strengths to the common good," Baylor's Coordinator of Service Learning Initiatives, Marianne Magjuka, said.

Reaching Out

"What we try to do is provide service opportunities that help students think about social justice issues, responsibility to their neighbors and how they can use their skills to serve real needs," Magjuka explained. Baylor students use their gifts and interests to meet a variety of needs in the Waco community through programs like Baylor Buddies, Campus Kitchen and Baylor Habitat for Humanity. Although these programs are organized on Baylor's campus, all of the service activities take place in the surrounding community.

Rising Up

Members of Student Foundation--an organization that supports the Baylor community through leadership and service--participate in different student-led committees to host special events, recruit new Bears and maintain relationships with alumni. Student Foundation members raise and award scholarship funds each year, impacting the lives of hundreds of students in need.

"Student Foundation members want to give back by serving Baylor. Not only are they reaping the seeds of their service, but they are planting seeds of service in others," Lizzy Davis, the Troy and Betty Mays Director of Student Foundation, said. "They are truly servant leaders, impacting Baylor by selflessly serving their fellow students and their community."

Looking Forward

Sure, it's good for Baylor and the community, but how does service benefit students juggling demanding academic schedules? In addition to helping students connect, communicate and lead more effectively, service can enhance education. "Service Learning" is connected to academic interests, creating a dynamic situation in which students are able to serve the community while gaining practical experience for their chosen career. It's a synergistic approach that trains students how to weave service into their future profession. "I have business students asking, ‘What does it mean for companies to be a good steward of resources?'" Magjuka said. "No matter the major, they are able to see how they can integrate service into their career."

Jumping In

Magjuka suggests students look at their interests and passions and try to find an organization that reflects those interests. Talk to academic advisors about classes that incorporate service activities into the coursework. She also advises, "just jump in and do it, and see what you like." Regardless of where, when and how students choose to serve, they will find serving others doesn't just live out the Baylor mission, it can powerfully impact the life they're going to live. Visit Student Activities Service Learning website or contact Marianne Magjuka for more information.