From volunteering at a local shelter to helping protect Long Island’s marine life, Stony Brook University graduate students spent Saturday, October 24, giving their time and talents to support the surrounding community during the Graduate School‘s first ever Community Service Day. Organized in partnership with the Center for Service Learning and Community Service (CSLCS) at the Career Center, the event brought together 30 participants for a day of hands-on service, community engagement, and connection.
Designed to encourage graduate students to give back beyond campus, the initiative offered five service projects in collaboration with local nonprofit organizations. Participants could choose opportunities that aligned with their interests while connecting with community members and fellow graduate students they might not otherwise encounter in their academic programs.
The service opportunities reflected a range of community needs across Long Island. At the Long Island State Veterans Home, volunteers helped bring Halloween festivities to life by serving food and assisting with games and craft activities at a children’s Halloween party. Students volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island engaged elementary school students in pumpkin painting and other Halloween-themed activities. Meanwhile, volunteers supporting the Parker Jewish Institute assembled activity kits for their residents.
Other participants took their service efforts outdoors. In collaboration with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, students joined a beach cleanup at Cedar Beach, learned about monitoring beaches for cold-stunned sea turtles, and participated in a mock turtle rescue exercise. Through these activities, volunteers gained insight into local marine conservation efforts and the importance of protecting Long Island’s coastal environment. At Hope House in Port Jefferson, participants supported individuals by serving lunch at the Pax Christi Hospitality Center.
Giulianna Vullo, Assistant Director of the CSLCS, who helped coordinate activities with participating nonprofit organizations, remarked that one of the most rewarding aspects was seeing students form new connections with one another and with the organizations they were supporting.
“It was so wonderful to see our graduate students choose to spend their Saturday building community with each other and with our community partners. Many of them had never met each other or learned about the nonprofit partners before this day! The goal of the CSLCS is to provide students with opportunities to serve others in need while also building a stronger connection to our campus community, and it was great to see this come to life this weekend!”
Building that sense of community was also central to the vision behind the event. Amy Lu, Graduate School Faculty Fellow, developed the initiative to help graduate students connect beyond their academic circles while discovering more of what Long Island has to offer.
“We were hoping this would be a great opportunity for graduate students to not only help with the community, but also build connections with students they wouldn’t otherwise come across in graduate school. When I saw their enthusiasm for picking up trash, going through a mock turtle rescue at the beach, and exchanging numbers towards the end of the afternoon, I knew the event was a success. We can’t wait to put more community service dates on the calendar next semester!”
The Graduate School Day of Service demonstrated how shared experiences beyond the classroom can strengthen connections among graduate students while deepening their ties to the communities surrounding Stony Brook University. Whether supporting local families, assisting individuals in need, or contributing to environmental conservation, participants showed how even a few hours of service can make a meaningful difference.
The Graduate School looks forward to creating more opportunities for graduate students to get involved in the coming semester. Students are encouraged to explore community service opportunities, connect with local nonprofit organizations, and discover how giving back can make a difference not only in the lives of others, but also in their own graduate school experience.
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