This year’s Service Scholars displayed their Integrative Service Projects (ISP) at the Service Scholar Open House on April 20, where Service Scholars spent at least 20 hours availing different non-profit organizations.
To become a Service Scholar and receive the Joanie Daily Service-Learning Scholars’ Award, students must complete at least 190 hours of service for Skyline High School and their community; however, there are many who have more hours than that. Service Scholar Macey Love said she completed 283 hours in total, and Service Scholar Isabelle Pope says she accomplished about 350 to 400 hours of service.
Love said to finish these hours, she felt motivated by “people always say[ing] that service changes their life, and after doing a few hours of it, it does.” During their Senior year, Service Scholars are given recognition for their hours of dedication with recognition at the Sweethearts Assembly in February, a Joanie Daily Service Scholar (JDSS) Spring Banquet, JDSS Yearbook Page, Joanie Daily Service-Learning Scholar (JDSLS) Medallion for graduation, and a JDSLS seal on their diploma.
Pope reported that what motivated her was that “it was really fun meeting people and working with my friends towards it. So, I just enjoyed doing it, but I also really wanted that medal.”
As part of the ISP, Service Scholars must write a 580 or more word summary of their project, work with others to achieve their goal, provide verification of their service hours, and create a display board that explains their project. ISPs must also benefit a non-profit organization.
For Pope’s ISP, she worked with refugee children and ran lemonade stands with them. From this Pope learned that “a lot of times people think they need to go out of their community to make a difference. And that’s where the problem is, but there’s actually a lot of problems in your community.”
According to the official JDSLS information packet, “the goal of this service-learning process is to help develop compassion, confidence, and a lifetime commitment to service.”
Many of the Service scholars feel as if their time uplifting their community has changed their perspective on life. Pope reports, “It’s honestly something I’ll look back on that’s changed my life. I highly recommend it.”
As for advice to others who are considering becoming a Service Scholar, Love recommends, “I would say definitely do it. […] You get a whole new perspective on your community and other communities.”
Pope says, “It’s definitely a time commitment, so […] don’t just start your Senior year, but it is so fun, and it’s honestly something I’ll look back on that’s changed my life. I highly recommend it.”
