TAMIU Annual Report 2020

TAMIU MEETS 50,000 SERVICE HOURS CHALLENGE, $1.1M EQUIVALENCY The COVID-19Pandemic interrupted various on-campus activities this year, but despite this unprecedentedobstacle, the TAMIUcommunity deliveredon its year-long, 50,000 ServiceHours Challenge for theUniversity’s 50thAnniversary observance. Mayra Hernández , TAMIU Student Con- duct and Community Engagement director, said service hours by TAMIU students, faculty, staff and alumni this year also had amonetary equivalency impact of over $1,100,000 on the community. “We all have the ability to donate our time, share our talent and to provide opportunities to those in need,” Hernández said, “Fostering a socially responsible student is the essence of developing a holistic global leader.” She continued, “By serving, TAMIUstudents learn the essence of community spirit and share the knowledge of creating a vibrant community. During challenging times, our students have not stoppedgivingback—that’s who we are—individuals who care to make a difference.” A feature Service Hours Challenge event wasMake a DifferenceDay inNovember 2019. It powered three different service activities: a mobile food-packing partnership with Feed My Starving Children, Juan Ramírez Park beautification initiatives with Keep Laredo Beautiful and Jamboozie Festival site prepara- tions with Laredo Main Street. Other efforts saw students assisting in a free health clinic to the community, giving presentations about oral health to children in K-5 grades, and serving food to the homeless. Other projects were directly linked to the community’s response to the challenge of the Pandemic and ranged from protective shield creation, and commu- nity contact tracing to online interaction with stroke survivors of the Laredo Stroke Support Group. “FOSTERING A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE STUDENT IS THE ESSENCE OF DEVELOPING A HOLISTIC GLOBAL LEADER.” -MAYRA HERNÁNDEZ 6