Students participate in philanthropic organizations

During a monthly event for Culture Connections, University of South Dakota senior Bailey Fish helped Yuta Shibazaki, a senior from Japan, carve his first pumpkin. Fish laughed when explaining the experience, but moments similar to that are what many USD student organizations thrive on.

There are 14 student organizations at USD listed under the campus/community philanthropy category. All of the programs get involved a variety of events, but each group’s purpose comes down to one thing — giving back to others.

Fish and Shibazaki carved pumpkins through the Students Enhancing the Resources for Vermillion Enrichment (SERVE) organization, which focuses on the local community with seven different programs.

“The Vermillion community does so much for our university, so we should always give back to them,” Fish said, who is the SERVE president.

Each program targets a specific group within the community ranging from Adopt-A-Grandparent — in which participants interact with Vermillion elderly — to Big Pal Little Pal —where a USD student is paired with an elementary Vermillion student. There’s also a Variations of Volunteering program, which gives students a wide range of experiences with local non-profit organizations.

To become involved, students submit an application and undergo an interview process. The organization doesn’t typically turn people away, but the process is meant to affirm the desired program is appropriate for the student.

This year, Fish said about 280 USD students are involved with SERVE, but she said there were about 100 more applicants who weren’t able to participate in one of the programs. Because of the large amount of candidates, the organization formed an additional program with a local target, the first new program in around 10 years.

With the implementation of Bridges in September, a partnership with SESDAC Inc., Fish said members started volunteering last week.

“We think of it as now we’re hitting every population of Vermillion,” Fish said.

No matter which program an applicant chooses, Fish said SERVE provides an opportunity to give back and be a good influence, specifically when working with the younger Vermillion affiliates.

Another philanthropic student organization, Dakotathon, spends the entire academic year fundraising for its big event, in which participants spend 24 hours dancing, playing games and hanging out with children associated with the Children’s Miracle Network, co-chair Steven Payne said.

“(Dakotathon is) basically trying to show them the time of their lives away from their normal routine of hospital visits, clinic visits, things like that,” Payne said.

After raising $56,000 during last year’s Dakotathon, Payne and co-chair Ashlin Peitzmeier said 2015’s goal is $61,000. Dancers, morale captains and executive team members are all asked to raise a certain amount of money for the April 18 event.

“We are the largest student-run organization on campus,” Peitzmeier said.

The organization invites Miracle families to the spring event, and throughout the day, they take turns telling their personal stories.

“When they listen to those stories, that’s what they’re there for and they realize that’s what Dakotathon is really about — it’s for the kids,” Peitzmeier said.

Payne said he will walk away from his involvement with Dakotathon understanding that people, himself included, often forget how fortunate they are.

“Hearing family stories about kids who are this tall and what they went through — that’s a battle that I’ve never faced, never want to face, and they got through it,” Payne said. “Just the inspiration they give is something you won’t forget, ever.”

Peitzmeier has been involved in the organization since her first year at USD, and she has loved every minute of it.

“It’s been the best thing that has happened to me since coming to USD by far,” Peitzmeier said. “Once you are a part of this, it will never leave you.”

Another campus group which focuses to help those affected by medical hardships is the Colleges Against Cancer student organization, which is a branch of the American Cancer Society.

Each year, the group hosts the Clay County Relay for Life, which honors people who have been affected by cancer.

“It’s a time where we all come together to walk and celebrate the lives of those who are still here, and celebrate those who have passed away from cancer,” said junior Emily Jansen, CAC president and Relay for Life coordinator.

Throughout the year, the organization does fundraisers to work up to the event, such as the sale of luminaries, where people may decorate a bag in honor of someone, and all of them are lined up around the track in the DakotaDome for the walk.

“It’s so powerful because at the event, it is so amazing to see… just different people in general, come together for one purpose and that’s to fight back against cancer and to support those who are fighting and caring for those who are fighting,” Jansen said.

While it may not directly affect everyone, Jansen said countless people have been affected by cancer in some way.

“Everyone has the same goal: Everyone hates cancer, and everyone wants it to be gone, and that’s what we’re raising money for,” Jansen said.

All of the proceeds from the event and fundraisers go to the American Cancer Society. This year’s event will take place Feb. 22 at the DakotaDome.

As a person who has been affected by cancer on a personal level through loved ones, Jansen said the experiences she has had with CAC are a blessing.

“If I can make someone’s life with cancer that much more joyful or give them that much more pride or put a smile on their face, or if I can rejuvenate a care taker in any way or if I can raise one more dollar for the American Cancer Society, that is such a gift,” Jansen said.

(Photo: First-year Hailey Moodie, right, helps two Vermillion middle school students in a mummifying activity at the Heroes, a sub-program of SERVE, after school program on Oct. 27 at the Vermillion Middle School. Cristina Drey | The Volante)