A collection of community-service members met in the SUN dining hall on Feb. 12 to share volunteering opportunities with AACC students.

The service learning fair included representatives from the Health and Wellness Center on campus, the Healthy Kids program, Seeds 4 Success, the Kent Island Federation of Arts, the Anne Arundel Weed Resistance, the Asbury Church Assistance Network, The Boys and Girls Club and more.

“We want to encourage students to use their classes and partner with community organizations,” Tresa Ballard, who coordinated the fair via the college’s Center for Learning Through Service, said.

Indeed, students at the event reported that they were having success finding service opportunities that would meet their class requirements and be enjoyable.

Seventh-year psychology student Samantha Pittman said her communications class requires service learning as part of her grade, and she is choosing to use it alongside AACC’s substance abuse center.

“Health is all about how we feel,” Pittman said. “I want to see what I can do to help out.”

Spencer Graf, a first-year business student, said his business class requires service learning as well. He plans to partner with the Anne Arundel Weed Resistance to help native plant species thrive.

“I learned about all these plant species [in environmental biology class], and they are right around my house and the school,” Graf said.

Students interested in additional service opportunities and internships should visit AACC’s Sarbanes Center for Public and Community Service at their Internship Office in Careers 314.