A major part of the senior service exhibition is the senior service learning project. Working alone or with a team, students must identify a community need, conduct research into the need and society's response to it and identify a community organization with which to work. After finding a community mentor, students either provide direct service by volunteering or indirect service by raising money and conducting advocacy.
Below is a list of some of the projects being organized by the Class of 2012:
Student: Jacob Baca
Organization: Riderdown
Riderdown helps offroad riders seriously injured in accidents. I am planning a ride day at a local track with half of the proceeds going to Riderdown.
Students: Anna Trujillo, Chris Stahoviak and Kaitlyn Olson
Organization: Edgewood Animal Care and Control
We are collecting donations of pet toys and food for the animals at the Edgewood shelter. We are hoping to collect enough to give each animal a special treat before the holidays. The Edgewood shelter doesn’t have enough space inside so now some of the animals have to stay outside in cages.
Students: Kathryn Simmons, Lauren Duling & Colette Reader
Organization: The Children’s Grief Center
We are volunteering at the Children’s Grief Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30pm. We help serve food, clean up, answer the door and take care of younger kids so that kids can go to groups to help them cope with their losses. After the orientation in February, we will be able to become group leaders. All of us are interested in psychology and wanted to work with kids, so we chose a program where we work directly with others.
Student: Kelsey Wilson
Organization: DWI Awareness
I’ve been personally affected by the issue of drunk driving. For my service project, I want to speak at middle schools and high schools about this issue and try to persuade others NOT to drive under the influence.
Students: Ryan Jackson and Shane Fulfer
Organization: Woodsend Church
The Woodsend Church in Edgewood has been running a mobile food pantry with the help of the Roadrunner Food Bank. The goal of our project is to collect food and donate it to give to others. We also plan to help the church with their food distribution events.
Students: Clay Benton and Randall DeRochie
Organization: National Wild Turkey Association
We are both hunters, so we wanted to choose a project that would benefit the outdoors and wild game. This spring, we are going to hold a skeet shooting competition and fundraiser for the National Wild Turkey Association at SASS in Edgewood.
Student: Nate Lopez
Organization: Soles for Souls
For my service project, I put together a show called “Beats for Feet” featuring eight of Albuquerque’s best DJs at the Orchid Chamber. I’ll be performing as DJ Infinate. The concert will be taking place on November 25th and with a $5 cover I’m hoping to raise $750 or more. Souls for Souls helps provide shoes to people in the developing world.
Students: Dakota Wright and Marissa Swalby
Organization: Edgewood Animal Care and Control
The shelter in Edgewood really needs help. We want to hold a bowling night to raise at least $1000 to help them build a new shelter. The animals really need it because the existing shelter isn’t big enough and some of them have to live outside.
Student: Mason Quick
Organization: Catholic Service Refugee Relocation Fund
Catholic Services helps refugees get resettled in the Albuquerque area. I am planning a soccer shoot-out this spring as a fundraiser. There will be several different age divisions and prizes for the winners of each division.
Student: Rachel Knight
Organization: Vista Grande Community Center
I went to Los Vecinos when I was a little kids and my favorite part was hanging out with the older kids. I wanted to give back by volunteering to help the kids at Vista Grande with their homework. It’s a good feeling to know that I can relate to them and help them out.
Students: Natalie Duprey and Ellen Shroyer
Organization: Cure Lung Cancer
We were motivated work on this service project because Ellen’s uncle has cystic fibrosis. We want to raise awareness and also raise funds.