(Photo by College Possible)

(Photo by College Possible)

College Possible students are joining with others across the nation to celebrate Global Youth Service Day, the largest service event in the nation and the only service project dedicated to getting youth involved in their communities. Projects included cleaning riverbanks with Milwaukee Riverkeeper, cleaning up a local YMCA, and partnering with Hunger Task Force to assist with the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

This past Saturday more than 500 students from College Possible Milwaukee’s 10 partner high schools engaged in community service projects to improve their communities. It was their way of giving back in recognition of generous community support that makes their participation in the college preparation program free. Each College Possible student receives a total of 320 hours of after-school curriculum during their junior and senior years of high school.

“The generosity of our supporters is a significant part of what makes our program successful,” said Executive Director Edie Turnbull. “Participating in Global Youth Service Day is a way for our students to give back to the community and say thank you for community member support. It’s also a way for us to stress the importance of service.”

College Possible makes community service a key component for students participating in the organization’s program. By encouraging students to develop an ethic of service, College Possible helps them see their own potential for making a difference in their communities while developing valuable leadership skills. Each student completes a minimum of 16 hours of community service throughout the course of the two-year program.

“I’ve done some other community service in the past and a lot of it has been with College Possible,” said Martha, a College Possible senior at South Division High School. “We definitely talk about the importance of service and are encouraged to continue helping in the community as much as we can.”