x2VOL Blog: Tracking Service Hours at your School

Many secondary schools across the nation have been around for generations. Some are even over a century old. Their values and mission have been long established and so have many of their processes and procedures. 

Every month we are highlighting a different school who's students are engaged and active in serving their communities. 

Going digital is an ongoing trend. Society has turned to the internet to do every day things such as paying bills online, shopping online, completing school work online or even tracking community service hours online. 

It's a topic that is always discussed - preventing falsification of service hours. Paper forms and physical signatures make falsification tempting to many students in public and private schools. We'd like to believe that it's a rare occurrence but many service leaders know who they need to double check. 

Students nationwide are spending their time serving their communities and volunteering for organizations they are passionate about. 

With the new school year underway, now is the time for students to start deciding which universities to apply to. Students may be wondering “How can I make my application stand-out from other applicants?” Leveraging community service experiences is a great way to stand out from the competition. It showcases the student’s leadership, compassion, and a commitment to making a positive impact. 

College admissions officers look at more than just grades and test scores when evaluating who they accept into their universities. They want to have an in-depth look of who the student is apart from the numbers behind their name. They want to know the student's personality, their interests, their passions and if they will be a positive addition to the university's campus life.  

College admissions officers are looking for: 

Spring break is the perfect time of year to lay by the beach, go on a trip, hang out with friends or volunteer at your local nonprofit organization or help someone in need. The days you have off during spring break are a great time to get plugged in to the community, make a difference in someone else's life and knock out some of your service hours for the year,

There are a number of elements that go into creating a successful service learning program in your school! It can be challenging to engage students and inspire them to get out into the community and serve those around them. 

One of the most challenging parts of heading off to college or university is paying for tuition. However, there are a number of scholarships, awards and grants for students to help offset and cover those costs, many of which are service focused.

Have you been diligent in completing service hours throughout your high school career? Make sure you use these hours to benefit your future!