WSU News Archive

By Janet Casello Johnson, WSU News

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University student Tony Smith loves to volunteer. Though he began working with college students, he found his passion while later working with young children in different settings.

 

Looking for more WSU people who serve their communities   Volunteerism is defined as "the act or practice of doing volunteer work in community service.” A volunteer is "a person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service.”   WSU News plans to feature faculty, staff and graduate student volunteers over the next few months to show some of the ways WSU employees serve their communities.   If you know of someone who you would like to see highlighted, please send their information to janetj@wsu.edu.

He is "energized” by the experience, said the master’s of business administration graduate student at WSU Tri-Cities.

His search for volunteer opportunities led him to Junior Achievement of the Tri-Cities, an organization he was familiar with from work during his undergraduate years. Smith worked with the summer camp program, which targeted at-risk elementary school children.

 

 

Connie Hache, volunteer coordinator, welcomed Smith’s involvement because of his prior experience with Junior Achievement. She outlined what needed to be done and Smith "took things and made it happen,” she said.

 

His charge was to teach the campers life skills using hands-on age-appropriate Junior Achievement activities. In addition, he helped out chaperoning kids at the pool.

 

Smith also talked and listened to the older kids who perhaps lacked role models at home. He served as a male role model, a rare and needed help, said a woman staff volunteer.

 

Describing Smith as "extremely conscientious,” Hache invited him to become a Junior Achievement ambassador at WSU Tri-Cities. His goal is to talk to clubs on campus to recruit other students to volunteer.

 

 

But Smith wanted more. The Mid-Columbia Children’s’ Reading Foundation was looking for assistance with its summer reading program. With donations from local businesses, CRF distributes books to kids at weekly events at local McDonald’s restaurants and community parks.

 

CRF aims to create an atmosphere where families discover the joy of reading together. Brian Ace, executive director, said Smith was a "phenomenal” volunteer, going beyond the scope of his duties on a regular basis.

 

Smith spent most of his time volunteering as a camp counselor at the Boys and Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties. For three days a week, he helped elementary-age kids learn athletics, games and socialization.

 

 

Now that school is back in session and Smith is concentrating on his studies, he continues to look for opportunities to volunteer on weekends.

 

He plans to graduate in 2012 and hopes to find employment – and many more volunteer opportunities - in the Seattle or Portland area.

 

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