Rockhurst Sentinel

Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Rockhurst.edu Freshmen participate in the Finucane Service Project

"One person may not be able to change the world, but you can change the world for one person," said Freshman Denise Whelan, and that is exactly what the Class of 2011 has done.

In a dual purpose of getting to know people and helping out the local community, the freshman class worked together in groups to reach out to the greater Kansas City area and to lend a helping hand to those who needed assistance.

This service experience is better known as the Finucane Service Project, and even though it is not a mandatory event for the freshmen to take part in, over 360 studetns partook in it one Sunday afternoon. The jobs of the students varied from painting a sanctuary at the First Haitian Baptist Church, making quilts for Children's Mercy Hospital and helping to prepare for a new school year at Saint Monica's Catholic School.

"The experience was fun and it was a great time to actually get to know some people on my orientation team because we were partnered up. I think it's a really cool part of freshman orientation to give students an idea of what Rockhurst is really about," said Freshman Jennie Nguyen.

Alexis Petri, Director of Service Learning at Rockhurst, said that the tradition of the Finucane Project has been going on for the past fifteen years. She said it also helps to focus on service and leadership; in addition it honors former Director of Campus Ministry Father Bill Finucane, who devoted much of his life to service.

"I hope that the students learn about a community organization that they can go back to and volunteer in the future," said Petri.

Freshmen Emily Connor said, "We went to the Ronald McDonald House and cleaned some of the rooms. I loved doing this project, especially since it was inside. I also had a really great time because I made such great friends that afternoon."

The over 360 students who took part in the Finucane service project collectively performed over 1,500 hours of service.

This was an opportunity for the freshmen to get better acquainted with Rockhurst, their classmates, and with their own work towards service. In addition to gaining life experience from the afternoon, many of the students said they had a blast doing it and it didn't even feel like much work, more like fun.

"I had a great time doing the Finucane project. We cleaned up a church, and my job was to clean the windows. The work wasn't too hard but it was very rewarding knowing that I was helping out," said Freshman Marianne Sicking.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools