Student Affairs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State students are invited to volunteer across State College during Fresh START Day of Service, set for Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Organized by Student Leadership and Involvement, the event connects students with local partners for a day of service. For many first-year students, it's an early chance to build friendships and see how their involvement can make a difference in the region. Students can sign up in Discover to participate in a variety of service projects both on and adjacent to campus.

"Civic engagement isn't just about a single day of service — it's about building the habit of showing up for your community, whether that's through volunteering, voting, or simply staying informed and involved," said Matt Siekman, student engagement specialist for Civic Life in Student Leadership and Involvement. "Fresh START is often the first step for students in discovering that being an engaged citizen and neighbor is one of the most valuable things they can carry with them."

Fresh START is one entry point into a broader effort led by Student Leadership and Involvement, a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, whose mission is to provide students with transformative leadership, service and involvement opportunities that build community and prepare them for lives of engaged citizenship.

Within that mission, the Civic Life team supports Penn State Votes, which helps students register, get informed and turn out to vote through partnerships across campus. Civic Life also coordinates the annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive with the Civic Engagement Alliance, which each November fills baskets with meal essentials for more than 200 families in State College, Philipsburg and Bellefonte; surplus donations benefit the Lion's Pantry.

Students seeking a deeper service experience can apply for Penn State Alternative Breaks, student-led trips over fall, winter and spring breaks that pair volunteer work with critical reflection on social issues. Together with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and other partnerships across Centre County, these programs reflect Civic Life's approach to service, voting and community engagement as an ongoing part of the Penn State experience

Students can learn more about Fresh START, Penn State Votes, the Thanksgiving Basket Drive, Alternative Breaks or other Civic Life programming through Penn State Discover or by contacting Student Leadership and Involvement at civiclife@psu.edu.

Penn State Student Affairs supports holistic student success through advocacy, education, engagement and care. With more than 30 programs and units, Student Affairs helps students thrive in and out of the classroom, discover community and belonging, build leadership skills, and create lasting memories. All programs and events are open to all students, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race or other protected class. Student Affairs is committed to building a community of belonging for all. Learn more about Student Affairs programs at studentaffairs.psu.edu.