Serving Beyond Gustavus

From teaching English in Japan to working to empower women affected by domestic violence, many from the Class of 2005 plan to continue their call to serve beyond Gustavus.

The Class of 2005 plans to continue in the strong tradition of Gustavus graduates volunteering with service programs. Programs like Japanese Exchange Teaching (JET), Americorps, Peace Corps, Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC), Urban Servant Corps, Teach for America, and Jesuit Volunteer Corps are some of the organizations graduates from 2004 served.

One of this year’s most popular programs is the Japanese Exchange Teaching program, which promotes language education as well as regional internationalization. Two Gusties who plan to serve with JET next year cite Gustavus’ strong tradition of studying abroad as critical to their decision to serve abroad. “If I didn’t have the opportunity through Gustavus to study abroad, I think that the JET program would be overwhelming,” says Matt Polski, reflecting on his abroad experience in Australia. “But since I had the experience being away from home in another country for so long, it helped prepare me for what will take place in JET.”

Hannah Julien, another senior planning to participate in the JET program says, “I think that learning to deal with ambiguity and difference is a skill that I have developed at Gustavus through considering multiple contexts, the classroom, community service, and study abroad. Not only do I hope to be challenged as an individual, I hope to make a positive contribution to the lives of the students with whom I will have the opportunity to work.” Hannah studied abroad in Venezuela while at Gustavus.

Matt and Hannah are two of eight Gustavus grads planning to teach English in Japan for the next year and possibly beyond. Another popular international service opportunity is the Peace Corps. Gustavus ranks 16th in the nation among small schools sending volunteers abroad in its programs.

Following in the footsteps of five Gusties from 2003-2004, Kiri deLaubenfels and Catherine Rodman have both been placed with organizations through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Kiri will be working at Women Empowered Against Violence and Catherine at Samaritan Ministries, both in Washington, D.C. Both Kiri and Catherine studied abroad during their time at Gustavus. Three other Gusties will be working at similar organizations affiliated with LVC in Wilmington, DE, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis.

Katie Hogue is one of several students who will be working with Americorps. Katie will be working in Monterey, CA, tutoring children from K-4 that are behind in reading skills. “Giving a year of my time for no money was super appealing to me, as crazy as that sounds,” she says. “Gustavus fostered my love to read and I thought, what a great way to share that with kids for the next year.”

The number of Gusties serving in these organizations has risen from 3 in 1997 to 23 in 2004. Increasing service opportunities in the Community Service Center, the efforts of the Center for Vocational Reflection, and the popularity of foreign language and culture classes at Gustavus all influence Gusties in considering their role in society. Most volunteer programs provide students with some combination of a housing allowance, a small monthly stipend, and possible contributions to loan payments at the completion of service.