Since 2016, one of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College’s many traditions, Foundation Day of Service, has offered an opportunity to give back to campus and community. In honor of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her companions establishing the institution on October 22, 1840, classes were canceled to allow students to embrace the day’s true meaning: prayer, service and fellowship.
Students took Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s teachings to heart and served throughout campus and the Wabash Valley. Along with the service projects, students and employees participated in educational breakout sessions that encompassed the institution’s core values — social justice, spirituality, sustainability and gender equity.
The day began with a prayer service led by Tim Tesmer, campus minister and several students, who are members of the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin scholarship cohort. Following the prayer service, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was happy to bring GTC Dramatic Dialogues to campus to conduct an interactive program on racism, sexism and LGBTQ+ issues, specifically pertaining to college students. Service projects followed during the afternoon.
Projects included making cards for military personnel and veterans, cleaning up around campus and making pottery for the Catholic Charities soup bowl benefit. Nearly 300 students, faculty and staff, volunteered for over 15 service projects.
Although service was required for students in the Woods Core 100 class, they didn’t mind getting to know their campus and community.
Lainey Fischer, a freshman education major and Terre Haute native, attended the prayer service and explained how rewarding it was to be a part of an important day. “It was a great way to start off the day in prayer and getting to know more members of the SMWC community. The spirituality of the day has been reassuring of the work we’re doing and how it’s a small token of what we can do to give back,” Fischer shared. She took part in cleaning up the sand volleyball court behind Le Fer Hall.
The prayer service in the Knoerle Center featured student speakers and words from Janet Clark, Ph.D., vice president for academic affairs and provost.
“We really feel it’s important to take the time to honor Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her five companions in their journey to establish a women’s institution, which has flourished into Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. It’s important that students get to be a part of this reflection and legacy to remind ourselves why we are here, what we can do and how we can grow in our values,” she shared.
Anneliese Weilhammer, a sophomore biology student from Greenfield, Indiana, shared in addition to having the day to give back, she was thankful for all she gained during the diversity, equity and inclusion event. “While some topics were a little uncomfortable, I really appreciated them. It allowed me to think about different situations differently and encouraged me to educate myself more on topics that I don’t know much about,” she said.
In her Foundation Day message, President Dottie L. King shared the gratitude to celebrate Foundation Day and how the College has grown. “As you ponder your own Woods experience, I pray that you are blessed with a great sense of gratitude and peace. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is truly a special gift! We are grateful for its founding story and the decades of evolution and persistence that have created The Woods of today!”