Marshall, TX – On Saturday, April 12, 2025, 38 members of the Wiley University community signed up to participate in the 3rd annual Wiley University Day of Service.
While the end-of-the-academic-year typically includes campus readiness for the summer and a focus on final exams, Wiley University, an historically Black institution, prioritized social good and leadership in its annual Day of Service. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel at 7:00 A.M. to check-in and receive their instructions for their assigned work sites including: the George Washington Carver Community Center, the Karnack Independent School District, and the LNM Christian Day Care.
All three sites, located in East Texas, provided an opportunity for participants to give back locally. “It was a real joy to welcome Wiley University, our neighbors, to the Karnack ISD family”, said Angela Fitzparrick, superintendent of the Karnack ISD and proud Wiley University alumna. There, students assisted in transporting items for a teacher moving to another classroom, organized a storage space, and assisted with relocating some furniture.
At the George Washington Carver Community Center, in Marshall, students cleaned both inside and outside the facility, assisted with yard work, and organized some groundwork in preparation for the summer. “Day of Service was a great experience for me”, said Nyemah Hodo a sociology major from Detroit, Michigan. “I loved that we could help the community, and it showed me that there’s so much more to Marshall than Wiley.”
One of the key aspects of the Wiley University Service-Learning Model is the integration of faculty and staff site mentors, who lead reflections for the student participants. La'Keisha Singleton, an IT learning support specialist at Wiley University, said, “I always enjoy being a part of Day of Service. It always means a lot to me to be able to give back to our community. To be able to witness the love and smiles from the community that we serve is why I will continue to participate.”
This year, before the participants served at sites, objectives from the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Society “Missions Is Essential” curriculum addressed the principles of compassion and service. Earlier this year, Wiley University was named one of the inaugural collegiate chapters of Lott Carey by then-president, Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart.
Rev. Dr. Cecil Duffie, dean of chapel at Wiley University shared, “The Day of Service falls in line with what our president, Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr. has deemed “Wiley Cares.” The chapel and the University promote the values of spirituality, service, and scholarship.”
For more information, please contact Catherine G. Sellers, Executive Director of Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management, at communications@wileyc.edu.
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About Wiley University:
Wiley University, formerly known as Wiley College, is a premier liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church. The university is dedicated to fostering social good and developing leaders who make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
