Service Opportunities at SUA
By: Payton Pennywitt and Taylor Smith
September 29, 2025
TOLEDO, OH– As christians we are called to serve and care for one another. That's why students at Saint Ursula Academy are required to have 60 service hours by the beginning of their senior year.
Each year, excluding senior year, students must have 20 hours of service completed by April 30. Seniors have a leadership service project, which is a mix of their leadership curriculum and service hours.
Many students receive service hours through summer camps, Labre, sports camps and the Toledo YES Project, which is a summer service program.
Sam Meklus, Campus Minister for Christian Service, regularly gives information about service hours for students to get involved.
If students are unsure about what to do, Ms. Melkus sends several service opportunities every other Thursday, allowing them to choose options based on their schedule and interests.
Ms. Meklus finds opportunities from organizations reaching out, finding online sign-up geniuses and by word of mouth from teachers and staff.
Service opportunities sent out by Ms. Meklus for the week of Sept. 18, 2025. Photo Courtesy of Ms. Meklus.
Every student has a different passion and schedule in their life, and their service hours are based on those interests.
“Everyone just kind of finds what they like and goes from there,” said Ms. Meklus.
Lauren Strong, a junior at SUA, volunteered at Disney On Ice, serving ice cream to the guests.
“I enjoyed seeing the smiles on the kids' faces when I handed them the ice cream,” said Strong.
Brooke Sizemore, a junior at SUA, spent time serving in a local Vacation Bible School camp earlier this past summer.
Sizemore enjoyed her time serving the kids because not only did she have fun teaching them games and seeing the kids have fun, but it also allowed her to incorporate her faith.
“As Christians, we’re called to serve others in love and humility,” Ms. Meklus said. “It also helps form [students] to become well-rounded individuals when you go out into the community and you give back to the community.”
Service hours can be viewed as more than just a requirement; many students utilize service hours as a means to spend time serving those in need and making a positive impact on others' lives.
