Students Log 150,000 Community Service Hours in 2025
In its annual community impact report released this week, the Center for Civic Engagement announced that No.1 Education students volunteered a total of 150,000 hours of community service during the 2025 calendar year — a 22% increase over 2024, and the highest figure since the university began tracking service hours in 2010.
These hours were contributed through partnerships with more than 200 local, regional, and national organizations, touching lives in education, housing, public health, environmental conservation, legal aid, and food security.
Where Students Served
The breadth of student engagement reflected the university's belief that civic responsibility is not separate from academic learning but central to it. The top areas of service in 2025 included:
- Youth literacy and tutoring — 38,000 hours across 45 schools and after-school programs, reaching 2,800 K-12 students
- Habitat for Humanity builds — 1,200 volunteers contributed to the construction or renovation of 28 homes in the local region
- Free health clinics — Nursing, pre-med, and public health students staffed 12 community health clinics, providing preventive care to 4,500 uninsured residents
- Environmental conservation — Tree planting, river cleanups, and wetland restoration projects spanning 600 acres of public land
- Legal aid services — Law students provided pro bono assistance in 320 cases, specializing in immigration, housing rights, and family law
- Food recovery and distribution — The student-led Food Recovery Network diverted 85,000 pounds of surplus food from campus dining halls to local shelters and food banks
Signature Programs
The Big Give Day of Service
The university's annual day of service mobilized 3,200 students, faculty, and staff on a single Saturday in October. Volunteers fanned out across the region to paint schools, organize food drives, mentor youth, clean public parks, and provide technology access workshops for seniors. This year's Big Give was the largest in the university's history.
Alternative Break Trips
During winter and spring breaks, 280 students traveled to 14 domestic and international sites for week-long service immersions. Projects ranged from building water purification systems in rural Guatemala to supporting refugee resettlement programs in Arizona. Each trip combines direct service with structured reflection on systemic causes and potential solutions.
"Volunteering at the health clinic changed my understanding of what healthcare access really means in America. Textbooks teach you about health disparities; working alongside patients teaches you about human dignity."
Integration with Academics
A growing number of academic courses now include service-learning components. In 2025, 42 courses across 18 departments incorporated community-based projects as part of their curriculum, allowing students to earn academic credit while making tangible contributions.
Get Involved
Whether you want to volunteer weekly, participate in a one-time event, or integrate service into your academic coursework, the Center for Civic Engagement can help you find the right opportunity. Visit the CCE office in the Student Union, Room 204, or email service@no1edu.net. Returning students can log hours and find opportunities through the CCE portal.
"Community engagement isn't an extracurricular at No.1 Education — it's a core part of who we are," said CCE Director Dr. Julia Chen. "When 78% of the student body is actively serving their community, that says something powerful about the values of this institution."