At UTA, a helping hand on a day of service
Students, faculty and staff from The University of Texas at Arlington spent their Saturday volunteering for community service projects with local organizations across the city.
This year, more than 240 volunteers and 35 site leaders took part in the annual Super Service Saturday event, held Sept. 10.
Emily Ford, a UTA graduate student studying social work, said the day of service can broaden horizons so Mavericks realize there is a much bigger community just outside of campus.
“With this event being a part of Maverick Stampede, it’s a great way for students, faculty and staff to kick off the year by giving back to the community,” Ford said. “One of the goals of the event is to get new Mavericks connected with agencies that they can continue to volunteer with during their time at UTA.”
Mavericks were able to give back at sites such as Mission Arlington, Arlington Public Libraries, O.S. Gray Natural Area, Lake Arlington, YMCA and more. Some of the community service also took place on UTA’s campus, including a composting site.
The student organization UTA Volunteers is a group of passionate Mavericks dedicated to serving their local community and just one of many student organizations that regularly participate at service events. Amber Waldron, a UTA senior majoring in nursing and member of UTA Volunteers, said she enjoyed Super Service Saturday to start her last year at UTA.
“Everything feels special in my senior year. Everything is sentimental,” she said. “I’m trying to enjoy everything while I can.”
Many other student organizations, including UTA Ambassadors, Freshmen Leaders on Campus and the Climbing Mavericks—a group of students devoted to all things rock climbing—joined in to serve the community. Super Service Saturday was hosted by both The Big Event Planning Committee in the Department of Student Activities and UTA Volunteers in the Follett Student Leadership Center.
“It’s a great way meet people because the school year has just begun,” Waldron said. “It’s a fun experience to do with friends and a way to learn more about all the different things that go on in the Arlington community and how you can help out.”
