WSU Tech employees volunteer throughout Wichita during first Community Service Day
In the wake of reporting the highest enrollment growth of the college’s history, WSU Tech employees celebrate by giving back to local agencies.
On the morning of Monday, Oct. 9, instead of reporting to their offices, several members of WSU Tech staff and faculty volunteered at eight local nonprofit agencies throughout Wichita. Over 50 volunteers participated in the first WSU Tech Community Service Day as part of the College’s annual United Way month. Volunteers spent their time doing maintenance, providing meal services, landscaping and other activities to support the needs of the agencies.
Lacey Ledwich, Director of Financial Aid at WSU Tech, and her son were amongst the volunteers who spent time delivering meals to seniors as a part of Senior Service’s Meals on Wheels program. Ledwich said, “Volunteering for Meals on Wheels has been an eye-opening experience for me. It expanded my understanding of the needs seniors in our community have and their unique situations, such as being frail and homebound. Having this opportunity and being able to share it with my 7-year-old son was worthwhile. Teaching him about stewardship is one thing, but having him experience it firsthand shows the true nature of giving back and paying it forward.”
WSU Tech has a long history of supporting United Way of the Plains and hoped that facilitating this opportunity for their employees would allow them to see what their financial gifts are being used for. Sheree Utash, WSU Tech President, said “This was a great opportunity for our college employees to contribute service and gain a better understanding of the needs and services within our community that are United Way agencies. We certainly will continue to build this new initiative with a second Community Service Day in 2018.”
Employees had the opportunity to volunteer at the following United Way of the Plains funded agencies: Episcopal Social Services, Wichita Children’s Home, Senior Services, Inc. of Wichita (Meals on Wheels), Salvation Army, Sunlight Children’s Advocacy & Rights Foundation and The Arc of Sedgwick County. Volunteers also worked at Wichita Habitat for Humanity and the United Way GIV Warehouse.
WSU Tech is the state’s leader in modern technical education, offering over 100 programs of study in aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, design and business. WSU Tech serves as managing partner of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita. Additionally, NCAT is home to some operations of Wichita State University and its National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).
