A group of students from Creighton University in Omaha spent the past week in Calhoun City assisting at Excel and Calhoun City Middle School.
“This is the sixth year that Creighton students have come to the community as the guests of Excel,” said Sister Judy Sinnwell. “They work, sleep, and pray together at Excel for the week as community, service and reflection are three of the seven pillars of the Jesuit university’s Center for Service and Justice.”
Their primary work is to volunteer at the After School Excel program, both the first and second session.
“Having them makes a huge difference,” Sinnwell said. “More tutors mean more help with homework for Excel kids.”
This year, Creighton students volunteered at CCMS during the morning schedule. In early afternoon, local speakers came to Excel and presented information about health care, education, and life in a small rural community. Several groups provided an evening meal for the volunteers: Excel advisory board, New Century Club, and Tri-Community Homemakers, who had Ace Cannon as a guest as well.
“This was an amazing experience. I absolutely loved getting to know so many people in Calhoun City”, Creighton student Zoe Reed said.
“As of this week, Excel was contacted by Creighton about scheduling volunteers for October 2015,” Sinnwell said. “It is so easy to say ‘yes’ to that request. This is such a valuable experience for Excel and for the volunteers.”