Thirty Honors College students recently engaged in weeklong service learning activities focused on inequity.
In its 60th anniversary year, the Honors College hosted the first-ever week of service learning, HC IMPACT. The Aug. 20-26 program involved 25 first-year students and five returning students who served as mentors.
Inequity was explored through the areas of health, education, housing and food. Students began the program by engaging in a poverty simulation in which they had to operate on a fixed income and work together to pay for food, housing, utilities and other necessities.
Honors College students volunteered at Haven House, Volunteers of America, Tri-County Office on Aging, Allen Neighborhood Center and Mt. Hope STEAM School.
“I loved how we had the opportunity to serve and learn in many different organizations because I got to see so many perspectives,” said Raywa Masti, a first-year student in the Lyman Briggs College.
MSU faculty and community educators also spoke with the students throughout the week.
“HC IMPACT is the opportunity to connect with and learn more about the community we live in,” said Elisha Smith, a first-year student majoring in human development and family studies in the College of Social Science. “I came into it with an open mind and came out a completely changed person.”
In addition to assistance from the Honors College, HC IMPACT was supported by MSU Residential and Hospitality Services, the MSU Federal Credit Union, MSU Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan and Bruegger’s Bagels.