KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 23, 2025

Owl Serve students spent their spring break helping underserved communities.

Twelve Kennesaw State owls spent their spring break in Memphis, Tennessee, volunteering and learning with local non-profits about food insecurity and youth empowerment within the community.

Student Volunteerism and Service hosted the 2025 alternate spring break trip. Program coordinator, Myah McDonald, and department director, William Hargrove, collaborated with Serve901 to curate this experience for the owls. These trips are part of a global movement of students who share a vision for bettering their community and lending a helping hand through hands-on learning experiences that complement classroom learning. 

“Participating in alternative break trips is one of my favorite parts of my job,” William Hargrove, Director of Student Volunteerism and Service, said. “Being able to lead a group of students from complete strangers to a thriving community is so incredibly rewarding. I especially love that the student community is built around the values of service and respectful dialogue as students step into discussions of difficult societal challenges.”

Throughout the week, the students served at four different non-profits, such as:

• Junior Achievement of Memphis
• Spring Jam at Neighborhood Christian Center
• New Hope Christian Academy
• Girls Inc. of Memphis

The first stop on the trip was Junior Achievement of Memphis BizTown, an interactive simulated economy designed to educate K-12 students in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy through real-world experiences. 

“Understanding the impact that we, as volunteers, can have on the community and youth around us has been a life-changing experience,” Tina Dong said. “Seeing the passion and gratitude of Memphis citizens and our student affairs staff trip leaders has been incredibly inspiring— community building and giving back to others are all features that are deeply ingrained in Memphis culture. I am grateful to have been a part of that experience.”

Owls then visited the Neighborhood Christian Center to assist with the clean-up of the annual Spring Jam event, which creates a travel experience for 1,000 underprivileged youth who are unable to go on traditional spring break trips from underserved communities around Memphis. 

“Before this alternative spring break trip, my idea of volunteering was helping local communities, and that was it, but on this trip, I’ve learned it goes much deeper than that,” Casey Atkinson said. “Immersing myself in a community made me reflect on how I can help others in my daily life, and it also made me learn and understand more things about myself. Overall, this trip has brought me connections, a sense of purpose, mental well-being, and a chance to give back to an underserved community.” 

Students then spent the morning getting their hands dirty planting blackberry vines in the New Hope Christian Academy’s farm and forest. The rest of the trip was spent with Girls Inc., assisting with Spring Break camps, building a new generation of leaders. Many KSU students felt the impact of their work during this portion of the trip. 

“An impactful moment during the trip was when we were working with the girls at Girls Inc,” Anna Mittal said. “They had so much energy and personality, and it was really special to connect with them on a personal level. Even though they hadn't known me for very long, they opened up and made the experience fun and memorable.”

McDonald shared that each night, students engaged in reflective discussions about the service work they were providing, explaining that it fosters empathy and deeper community engagement among our students. 

As we enter the summer months, the team with Student Volunteerism and Service is excited to continue finding and planning innovative and impactful ways for students to serve alongside the communities surrounding the Kennesaw State University campuses and beyond. Learn more about the available volunteer opportunities on GivePulse.

Story written by Jianna Anderson and Meghan Cooper. Photos provided by Student Volunteerism and Service.