By: Leigh Anne Burns & Lindsey Shiver

What is Service Learning?  Service Learning is the incorporation of community service within an educational system, and is often in many places a graduation requirement. (

Fall Semester 2007  In our sorority, Phi Mu, we are able to participate in many community service opportunities.  For the Fall semester, we participated in Operation Christmas Child for Samaritan’s Purse, held a car wash to raise money for our philanthropy (Children’s Miracle Network), and attended an Alcohol Awareness Seminar

Spring Semester 2008  Our Spring semester has been filled with service learning activities. We held our annual volleyball tournament for Children’s Miracle Network, and also participated in the Hobdy Memorial Flag Football Tournament.

Volleyball Tournament  For the past four years, Phi Mu has hosted a volleyball tournament that benefits Children’s Miracle Network.  This year, our chapter raised well over $12,000, and this is not including private business donations that are still coming in.  This is the largest amount of money that our chapter has ever raised, and we hope to exceed this amount next year.

Phi Mu Chapter 2008

Minor Setbacks  The volleyball tournament is usually held at the volleyball courts in Blanton Commons Apartments,  This year, however, the rain permitted us from doing so. Luckily, we had a back-up plan!  Thankfully, W.G. Nunn Elementary School was kind enough to open their gym to us.  We arrived at the school at 7:00 a.m., and the tournament began at 8:00 a.m. The games continued until 8:30 p.m., and we cleaned up afterwards for about 30 minutes.

Getting Involved

Our Jobs  We were in charge of selling Candy to the participants and onlookers.  We were also in charge of getting the prizes together for the winners. Concessions Prize Committee

A Lot of Work and Some Play  Despite the fact that the tournament was held indoors, we still made it a good time.  Because it was held indoors, we were able to have music, and contests in between games, such as a hula- hooping contest.  We also had concessions, and a hospitality room for the hard-working teams.

Goofing Off

The Teams

Spring Semester ‘08 Continued..  We have also been VSU Visitation Day tour guides, and were involved in Kappa Sigma’s Philanthropy Week.

What Community Service Means to Us…  These Community Service opportunities have enriched our lives and made us more appreciative of what we have.  We learned that no matter how good someone’s life seems you never know what they have been through.  There is always someone who is in need of help.

Benefits of Service Learning  Not only did it give us an amazing feeling of accomplishment, but it also is bettering the community, one job at a time.

Will We Continue?  As long as we are in the Phi Mu Chapter we will be privileged enough to complete 10 hours a semester of service learning. We also will host our annual volleyball tournament for years to come, each year we hope that the proceedings will increase to better Children’s Miracle Network.  Even after we leave Phi Mu we will continue to participate in community service opportunities.

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