“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

–Mahatma Gandhi

A Legacy of Service

Supporting community and serving others was an integral part of the Phillips University experience. Whether it was helping a classmate or making a difference in the community, Haymakers believed in one another and believed in making a difference. That commitment still lives on today through the focus on service and community impact that exists in the legacy scholars program.

We know serving others allows us to deepen our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with our communities. It fosters empathy, compassion and a sense of connection with others While instilling a commitment to social responsibility , service and active citizenship, it instills a lifelong commitment to serving others by helping students understand that their actions can make a meaningful impact. It not only benefits others but also enriches one’s own college journey.

Changing Campus and Community

The core of the leadership program’s focus on service centers around the Volunteer Leadership Project.

With the support of staff, mentors and peers, each Legacy Scholar develops and implements a service-learning based Volunteer Leadership Project that connects and area of their own passion to a need in the community. Using a service-learning approach, these outcome-based projects address a significant need within each student’s campus or community and utilize the leadership lessons learned throughout the program.

Past Volunteer Leadership Project examples ranged from Michaela who worked with community partners to address food insecurity and shortages in her community to Sean who worked with his local Red Cross to address crisis relief issues in the community. They include the work of students like Grace and Ruthie who addressed issues of interfaith understanding and cooperation to Austin and Hayden who tackled issues of sustainability and environmental impacts.

To date, there have been over 500 projects, amounting to over 2,000 volunteer and learning hours, all dedicated to transforming communities and campuses for the better, while developing leaders who are already transforming the world.