Though American University begins classes Monday, students have already taken advantage of citywide volunteer programs during the University’s 16th annual Freshman Service Experience.

Of the 1,393 incoming freshman students, 524 volunteered across the District on Tuesday, logging in the first day’s worth of the 13,000 hours administrators estimate will be completed by the end of the week.

“I volunteer — especially in D.C. — because we are so privileged in Northwest,” said sophomore student leader Carolyn Chenicie, of Harrisburg, Pa. “We need to give back to the community that is hosting us for four years.”

The volunteers will serve at 44 sites, including elementary schools, food kitchens and environmental organizations.

This story continues below
Advertisement

Eight students and a sophomore leader helped clean and prepare classrooms at Bancroft

Elementary School in the Mount Pleasant area, a public school that serves Spanish-speaking children.

“There are three volunteer categories,” said Tasha Daniels, an administrative assistant with the university’s volunteer department. “Students can choose to work with people, including the elderly and children, or maintenance and office work.”

According to Daniels, only 10 percent of the volunteers are from the District, which means AU students from outside the area gain an understanding of the city beyond the campus bubble during their stint as community helpers.

“Discover D.C.” is another on-the-town orientation AU offers freshman, which does not include community service.

The Freshman Service Experience event comes on the heels of last week’s fourth annual In My Backyard Public Service Day, in which 200 AU law school students, faculty and staff volunteered at five locations across town.

“You do service before you even go to class,” said Clark Gregor, a public information officer with American University.

mmartin@dcexaminer.com