Last fall, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University challenged each other in giving 12,500 hours of service by next September in celebration of NWU's 125th anniversary.

Since the 12,500 Hour Service Challenge kickoff in August, momentum for the effort has been full steam ahead. As of January 28, 8,368 hours have been logged.

Hundreds of community service projects have been logged including mentoring students through the TeamMates Program, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, glazing ceramic bowls for the upcoming Bowls for Backpacks event, and donating blood.

The 12,500 Hour Service Challenge is meant for participants to volunteer wherever they are. For example, senior Mallory Iseminger volunteered at an orphanage in Fiji, where she studied last semester. Alumni in the Omaha area participated in Lend-A-Hand to Omaha where they stocked shelves and sorted clothing at two non-profit agencies. NWU employee Dora Thompson returned to her home country of Honduras where she volunteered in a medical clinic. Member of Global Service Learning served in Chicago during the semester break.

The University's overall goal to reach 12,500 hours by next September coincides with the conclusion of NWU's 125th anniversary. 

Want to help us reach our goal? Here are a few opportunities:

• Volunteers are needed for HIV counselor training in with the Nebraska AIDS Project in Lincoln. Training will be held Friday, February 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1120 K Street, Suite 100 in Lincoln. Contact Tami Washam if you are interested.
• Volunteers are needed to help with Nebraska Wesleyan's "Bowls for Backpacks: Empty Bowls Event" on Sunday, February 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several shifts are available. The fundraiser benefits the Food Bank of Lincoln's BackPack Program. Register to volunteer at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Volunteer_EmptyBowls2013

If you are interested in other Lincoln area service opportunities, contact Kelli Wood, service learning coordinator, at kwood@nebrwesleyan.edu.

Follow the progress of the 12,500 Hour Service Challenge by "liking" the 12,500 Service Challenge Page on Facebook or follow the progress on Twitter at NWU_ServiceChallenge.