Doing unto others is the Sooner way, and serving locally is not the only form that one OU group takes.
For 23 years the President’s Community Scholars, or PCS, has been helping the surrounding community. Four years ago, the program grew internationally.
“It gives you a lot of opportunities to serve the community,” said Danielle Nickelle, a former PCS student.
PCS is a freshman opportunity, but upperclassmen can apply to be mentors. Students in the program gain confidence and leadership skills by presenting programs, panels, and seminars that highlight the role of society needs within OU, leadership, and the community, according to the group’s website. They also get to make a difference internationally.
“We made a huge footprint,” said Kari Dawkins, the group’s adviser. Starting in 2013, students left the community they called home and ventured to Arezzo, Italy.
For two weeks, PCS freshmen and mentors have the opportunity to serve, participating in beautification projects and learning through culture, food, history and art.
Dawkins said they also paint murals in an Arezzo Grade School and at a children’s hospital in Italy.
“It gives you a lot of opportunities to serve the community,” Dawkins said.
Students volunteer locally for Cleats for Kids, a nonprofit organization that gathers sports equipment for the surrounding schools. They also volunteer for Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City. “We are trying to help our students have initiative,” Dawkins said.
This past year students collectively contributed 11,000 service hours, all the more impressive considering there is no requirement for the number of hours.
“Their hearts are in the right place to do service amongst others,” said Dawkins, explaining that because of PCS she is beyond excited about the future of this generation.
Beyond the volunteering, PCS pays off in other ways. Former PCS student Shreya Patel said the program helped her through her college experience, including helping her get an internship at Bank of Oklahoma.
