As the Service-Learning Coordinator for the Day One Leadership program, Dr. April Heiselt saw the passion with which her students pursued their service projects and their eagerness to make a difference in the community.
As an Assistant Professor in Counseling & Educational Psychology she was familiar with the research showing student retention rates rise the more involved they are in the community and their school.
"I have always been interested in getting students involved and so I began to ask the question "how can we do that" and started looking at what other universities were doing," Heiselt said.
Her research led to the birth of Service DAWGS, a new student organization dedicated to giving students a way of making a difference on campus and in the community.
Through Service DAWGS, volunteers will be involved in everything from painting playground equipment to picking watermelons for food drives.
"Service DAWGS give students a way to get involved in the community and on campus while making a difference and making a few new friends as well."