Volunteer Summary

The total amount of volunteer hours logged on Pioneer Engage for the 2022-2023 Academic Year, August – May, was 10,481 hours and 9 minutes. This is an increase of more than 1,700 hours from the previous year!

Based on the volunteer wage of $22 per hour set forth by The Federal Agency of Service & Volunteering the monetary impact of these volunteer hours was $230,585.30. 

TWU students went above and beyond with the amount of volunteering they did! Their volunteering ranged from fundraising & virtual volunteering to education & in-person volunteering.

Here are some of the different causes that they volunteered for:

Pioneer Camp Day of Service was hosted on August 27th from 8am - 1pm. Seventy-nine students volunteered a collective 237 hours.

Impact

Students volunteered at the following sites:

• Keep Denton Beautiful Adopt-A-Spot
• TWU Butterfly Gardens
• TWU Campus Affirmation Chalking
• Shiloh Field
• Tee Shirt Bags for Groceries To Go
• Cards for Denton ISD students
• Cross Oaks Elementary School
• Stephens Elementary School
• Nette Shultz Elementary School
• Riding Unlimited
• Brandon Clinton Sport Horses
• Blue Sky Therapy

Helping Hands Service Ambassadors highlighted 55 community events for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Impact

Helping Hands Service Ambassadors have highlighted community events in addition to hosting their own. Helping Hands was able to make an impact with the following organizations/communities:

These opportunities were a mix of in-person opportunities as well as virtual opportunities, which increases our event accessibility and engages our student body. 

This year, there were 97 students who participated in the Pioneer Service Scholars program between the fall and spring semesters. Collectively, these students provided 3,006 hours of service to their various community sites. Combined, we were able to award students $48,500 through $500 semesterly stipends.

Impact

Participants volunteered at 43 different service sites:

Make a Difference Day serves to promote majority on-campus service projects to encourage students to learn about their TWU community. Fifty-one students participated in an in-person service project and 34 students participated virtually. Together, these students completed 255 hours of service.

Types of Volunteering

In-Person Service Sites:

• Adopt A Spot
• Chalking
• TWU Butterfly Gardens
• Volleyball Game Signs
• TWU Gaming Lounge
• Shiloh Field
• Riding Unlimited
• Brandon Clinton Sport Horses

The Center for Student Development and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach collaborated with the Center for Student Leadership to host several activities throughout the week to honor Dr. King’s lasting legacy.

January 16: Morning of Service

January 16: Celebration March with TWU’s Multicultural Greek Council

January 17: Share Your Dream Board

January 18: VDR Lunch & Learn

January 18: Legacy Reflection Dinner

January 16 - January 27: Helping Hands hosted Supply Drive

This year we were able to host three Alternative Spring Break trips. Sixteen students participated in the overnight trips and 5 students participated in the local trip. 

• Denton, Texas
• Killeen, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas

Denton, Texas

The TWU Butterfly Garden, Shiloh Field, and Clear Creek Heritage Center provided the backdrops for an environmental stewardship focused local trip. Students attended a half day of service at each site focused on removing invasive plant species, harvesting community garden produce, and ensuring pollinator gardens were well cared for.

Killeen, Texas 

Peaceable Kingdom aims to create an accessible barrier-free camp experience for youth aged campers. TWU students completed camp upkeep projects for the local farm animals, created a sensory room, and learned how to adapt programming to meet diverse camper needs. Students led campers through obstacle courses, art projects, and archery sessions.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Students partnered with Arkansas Master Naturalists to learn about environmental stewardship and the importance of native flora and fauna to local ecosystems. Together, students participated in invasive plant species removal, planted native plants, assisted with trail upkeep, and litter removal. 

The Big Event serves to promote off-campus service projects to encourage students to learn and engage with the Denton community that gives so much to support TWU. One-hundred twenty-six students participated in-person projects while an additional 30 students participated virtually. Together, these students completed 468 hours of service.