Students donate 2,600-plus hours in fall

Every semester the Honors Educational Reach Out program tries to live out their motto, "Be more than a volunteer. Be a HERO," and that's exactly what they did this fall.

Nearly 200 honors-student volunteers contributed more than 2,600 hours of service to the Central Florida community, making last fall's HEROs the most successful semester to date.

In spring 2010, HERO logged in about half that, according to Megan Ewing Pfleiderer, HERO's program director.

A high number of hours were logged last fall for a few reasons, Ewing Pfleiderer said.

For the first time she was able to coordinate with LEAD Scholars professors who told their students that they could do their community service through HERO. LEAD Scholars students are required to do community service.

"Between that, word of mouth and the additional programs students could volunteer with, we were able to have such a successful [fall] semester," she said.

HERO, which is sponsored by the Burnett Honors College, provides both honors and non-honors students with the opportunity to give back to their communities by taking the knowledge they have acquired from their college experience and sharing it with a community in need.

HERO volunteers were able to choose from a variety of sites to volunteer at, including: Orlando Regional Medical Center, Green-up Orlando, HOPE Foundation for the Homeless, Pineloch reading buddies, Pet Rescue By Judy and various elementary schools.

Students frequented these sites on a weekly and biweekly basis.

Ewing Pfleiderer believes students finally began to understand the commitment it takes to volunteer with the program.

"HERO volunteers are students dedicated to making a change," Pfleiderer said.

Chris Peterman, a sophomore applied mathematics major, completed 50 hours at Pet Rescue By Judy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue of uncared-for cats and dogs.

"I knew I wanted to get involved with Pet Rescue By Judy because there are so many animals out there that need help and very few people doing something about it to make a difference," Peterman said. "I have always had a love for animals, stemming from when I lived in Myrtle Beach, S.C."

Katie Neill, a senior economics major, volunteered at Pet Rescue By Judy and Hillcrest Elementary After School Care Program where she completed 45 hours of service. Neill helped out with the organization of an after school art program for the students at Hillcrest Elementary.

"It's so important to get involved in the community no matter what organization," Neill said. "The smallest thing can make a difference, one person can make a difference in so many peoples' lives."

Civic engagement not only benefits the person volunteering but the agencies have claimed that student volunteers improve their overall operation, as well.

Ryan Rivas, the program director of Page 15 and Urban Think! Foundation, which focuses on writing, reading and tutoring, said he relies on students to do what some adults can't do for the organization.

"We really appreciate all the [student] volunteers," Rivas said. "When the volunteers are students they really connect, inspire and relate to our kids on a level that adults can't sometimes. We wouldn't be able to have the program that we do if it wasn't for volunteers."

Judy Sarullo, president of Pet Rescue By Judy, also appreciates the help of volunteers. Throughout the years, Sarullo has consistently seen her animals have a positive effect on the young volunteers.

"I always try and encourage youth to get involved with the animals because, if you teach children to be good to animals, they'll be good to each other," Sarullo said.

Ewing Pfleiderer is confident this semester will be successful, as well, with the addition of two new programs: Achieve a College Education Day, and Children's Home Society of Central Florida.