Washington Adventist University Celebrates Two Decades of Impactful Service Days

For more than two decades, Service Day has been a hallmark event for both students and employees at Washington Adventist University (WAU). Since 2010, the university has set aside one day each semester where the campus closes, and the entire WAU community engages in service projects across the Silver Spring/Takoma Park area and beyond. These service days reflect WAU’s commitment to fostering a spirit of community and service, embodying the university’s mantra, “Gateway to Service.”

Originally coordinated by the Office of Campus Ministries, the organization of Service Day is now led by the Center for Student Life, which also oversees the University Chaplain and various campus ministries. Service Day begins early, with participants gathering at 8:00 a.m. in the Sligo Church sanctuary. Students and employees pre-register for service projects, and the sanctuary is divided into sections based on the projects. The day begins with a brief devotional service, where the University Chaplain delivers an inspiring message about the significance of service, often drawing from biblical texts or stories. Following the devotional, participants collect their signature service day t-shirts, which were pink this year in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and board buses or vans to their assigned sites.

This year, participants could choose from 13 to 15 different service projects, reflecting the diversity of the university’s outreach efforts. Nursing students took center stage at several locations, including Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring, where they offered free health screenings and distributed reading glasses to passersby. Their presence created a buzz, as motorists honked in response to the students’ 10-second testimonies, adding excitement to the event. Other nursing students performed similar health screenings at Beltway Plaza Mall, extending WAU’s impact even further into the community.

Additional service efforts included a Red Cross Blood Drive held on campus, clean-up projects at Sligo Creek and Takoma City Gardens, and maintenance work at specific on-campus locations organized by WAU Facility Services. Participants also supported local food banks and nursing homes, engaging in a wide variety of hands-on activities that brought aid and encouragement to community members. Altogether, approximately 400 students and employees contributed around 2,000 hours of service throughout the day.

As participants completed their tasks, they returned to campus for a communal meal in the dining hall, where reflection and fellowship took place. Many shared personal stories of how they were as blessed by the experience as those they served, emphasizing the profound sense of community, pride, and accomplishment felt throughout the day. These reflections underline the impact of Service Day, which not only benefits the wider community but also strengthens the bonds within the WAU family.

As WAU continues to cultivate a culture of service, the university’s Service Day remains a powerful expression of its mission to be a gateway to service, inspiring students and employees alike to make a meaningful difference in the world around them.

 

You’ll find more pictures of WAU’s Service Day on our Flickr account here.