By Taylor J. Hale
Reporter

STEVENS POINT — UW-Stevens Point (UWSP) is celebrating its 125th Anniversary with a 125K Community Service
Challenge.

The college is asking students, staff, alumni and the community to ration time during the 2019 year to serve the Stevens Point area in any way possible. The volunteer drive started at the beginning of 2019 and runs the length of the year, offering participants a chance to get out and assist their city.

“To commemorate the 125 year anniversary, UWSP is trying to generate 125,000 hours of volunteering,” explained UWSP Student Blogger, Kelly Kositzke. Kositzke is studying administration and management at the university. The young blogger is also president of Rotaract, a UWSP service-based organization affiliated with Rotary. She saw
the community aid challenge as an opportunity to give back to the area.

UWSP Rotaract Club members at the ice cream social. (UWSP Photo)

“We have done about two events per month for almost over two years now,” Kositzke said. “I thought this was a perfect opportunity to showcase all the hard work Rotaract has done, and support our university.”

She gathered members from the club and contacted Brookdale Senior Living in Stevens Point, and offered to come in and help with the elderly. Brookdale faculty was elated to see the young and enthusiastic university members join the team for the day.

“Brookdale was thrilled to have college students interested in volunteering,” Kositzke said. “We were asked to help set up residents technology to communicate with their families, and also go to individual rooms with IT help.”

The group was then invited to stay for Brookdale’s Ice Cream Social for a more intimate meet and greet with the residents. Students from the group thoroughly enjoyed their experience. Some of the club members now have plans to go back to the facility and volunteer in late February.

UWSP Student Kelly Kositzke. (UWSP Photo)

Those participating in the program log their volunteered hours. UWSP then tallies the cumulative times. Their goal for 125K hours may seem high, but with enough effort from the community, Kositzke and her peers feel it’s possible.

Kositzke notes that many members in the Rotaract club are college freshmen with no method of transportation. She sees programs like this as an opportunity to assist regardless of circumstance.

Kositzke explained, “this is a really great opportunity to not only learn about what an awesome community Stevens Point is, but to also help residents at the same time. It is beneficial to all involved.”

The UWSP 125K Community Service Challenge is still running. For more info on the program visit www.uwsp.edu/125/Pages/service-challenge.aspx.