With a 25% increase in student involvement, RCB’s second Day of Service exceeds goals

The Rohrer Center for Professional Development’s second annual Day of Service on November 9 crushed last year’s record and its organizers’ bold 2023 ambitions.

During last year’s Day of Service event, RCB students, faculty and staff made 631 sandwiches to donate to Cathedral Kitchen in Camden and more than 80 cards for servicemen and women overseas—no small feat for a group of around 100.

This year, participants made three times as many cards for military personnel and far surpassed their goal of 700 sandwiches.

“It was like the word spread, and people were very interested in helping out,” said Elisabeth Parker, assistant director of the Rohrer Center for Professional Development.

The 2023 Day of Service turnout included 83 students, 25% more than last year, as well as various faculty and staff including Interim Dean Morris Kalliny and adjunct professor Stephen O’Toole.  

The increased attendance and enthusiasm made this year’s event “lively, engaging, and fun,” said Amie Ryno, director of the Rohrer Center for Professional Development.

Healthy competition between the RCB’s various clubs and student organizations boosted student participation this year with the Women in Business Club making the most sandwiches and cards.  

“My members did an amazing job showing how much they care,” said Nicole Millemann, president of the Women in Business Club and a senior finance major from Toms River. “The Day of Service event is a great way for students to give back to the community and raise awareness for so many different issues.”

The Financial Management Association and the American Marketing Association were not far behind in the competition among student clubs.

“The friendly competition heightened the fun,” said Financial Management Association co-president Shriya Vachhani, a senior finance and accounting dual major from Lumberton. “I found the day of service to be a very enjoyable experience as it allowed me to engage with students across various majors, providing a valuable opportunity to hear and learn from their unique stories. Treating the day as a competition made it even more enjoyable.”

As the College looks forward to the next Day of Service, Ryno hopes to build on this year’s success by adding new components and forging new partnerships across the RCB and University.

“The Day of Service allows students to start thinking of themselves as responsible leaders,” Ryno said. “While we want to prepare students academically, we also want to provide opportunities for them to engage outside of the classroom and build their resume and skillset in meaningful ways that they can talk about in job interviews.”