Go Serve! GW First-Year and Transfer Students Partake in Projects Across D.C.

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First-year and incoming transfer students at the George Washington University volunteered at 68 sites, including 32 schools and six parks and recreation centers, across Washington, D.C., Saturday for the annual Welcome Day of Service, an institutional tradition that immediately follows Convocation in the morning.

Organized by the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, the day connects new students to the university to service opportunities at GW while also introducing them to the neighborhoods and community organizations throughout the city they will call home for the next four years.

At Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School, the Two Rivers Public Charter School and Shirley Chisholm Elementary School in Northeast D.C., students arrived-appropriately-by yellow school bus for a day of cleanup to help the schools get ready for the upcoming academic year.

The students spent most of their time at Chisholm, which is currently housed in a series of trailers while the historic building is being renovated.

Sara Arranz, the principal at Chisholm, explained to the students that the school was named after "a very talented woman" who was the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, noting that Chisholm said, "service is the rent you pay for the use of the land."

Arranz invited the students to return and spend time at the school which provides a dual language immersion in arts and culture in the city, noting that the students produce musicals and films in Spanish.

"Service day is awesome," said Sergio Pico, a first-year student from Spain. "We're very privileged. Now, we're very grateful. We see how people are working very hard. We have to use the resources we have to work hard."

With school opening Monday, some volunteers at Chisholm worked on restoring order to "the Bubble," a large makeshift structure that serves as the school's cafeteria. They collected trash, swept and mopped the floors and put the tables and chairs in order.

GW students on the campus of Chisolm Elementary School and Phelps Architecture, Construction and Engineering High School helped get the schools ready for the first day of classes. (B.L. Wilson/GW Today)

First-year international affairs student Phillippe Kottmeier said volunteering on this day was "extremely important in creating connections with new students."

Raina Sodha, who will be studying biological engineering, enjoyed being able "to explore parts of D.C., other than Foggy Bottom." She was impressed by how organized the day was.

"The idea of about 68 different places that they split the students to go to was incredible," she said. "I'm excited to be part of it."

Tamara El-Hosary, an international affiars major from Egypt who joined a group folding school uniforms at one table, appreciated getting to know a different D.C. neighborhood in such a way.

"It's been great to get to know other communities and what their needs are and just give back," she said.

First-year international affairs student Violet Rodhouse had previous experience volunteering in the city garden in her Oregon hometown when she was in high school and teaching elementary students how to ski. She was eager and excited to continue her passion for service in D.C., appreciating seeing "where all these families live and work."

"It's already rewarding," Rodhouse said.

Pranay Duggirala, who will also be studying international affairs, said that his service experience Saturday was "a great way to give back to a place I'll be calling home for a few years. It's a good way to start."

Along with Julia Lundgren, who plans to major in pre-med, Duggirala helped clear out a trailer that will be used by service providers at the school.

Lundgren herself is no stranger to volunteering, as her high school's motto revolved around service.

"It's kind of bringing me back. It's nice though," she said. "It makes you feel good and introduces you to the community here and is a good way to help build community within GW."

Political science and history major Joey Lieberson said that "this was a great day to connect to people on the floor I'll be living next to and venture beyond the area we've been going to and to do some good."

Elsewhere, President Ellen M. Granberg and Provost Edward J. Balleisen joined a group of students doing service at McKinley Technology High School before coming back to the University Student Center to hop in at a table of students helping decorate rocks forSasha Bruce Youthwork, a supportive housing program for teens and families. The painted rocks provide cheerful landscaping for the buildings where young people live and learn.

Other service sites included Tudor Place in Georgetown, HD Cooke Elementary School and the School Without Walls High School. Photos below from GW Today photographers William Atkins and Lexi Critchett: