By: Maddy Wilke '24

When applying for colleges, I knew I wanted to join a campus community where service and volunteer opportunities were plentiful. The University of Mount Union offered me exactly that!  

I was an active volunteer all throughout high school and loved having the opportunity to give back to my community. I knew that sororities each had their own philanthropy or cause that they supported, so I signed up for recruitment right away. Going through sorority recruitment was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and it led me to become a sister of Delta Sigma Tau.

Delta Sigma Tau is a local sorority, founded on Mount Union’s campus in 1990, and because we are a local chapter, our philanthropy, Carnation Restoration, supports the Alliance and Stark County communities! We support the YMCA, YWCA, Alliance Community Food Pantry, and the Stark County Humane Society. I absolutely love being able to help at these organizations and see the direct impact we have on our community.  

Me with my Delta Sigma Tau sorority "big," Gabbi, at the annual DST Kickballl Tournament  

Some of my favorite philanthropy events that we host on campus include our annual Dunk-A-Delta event, our Kickin’ It for Carnation Restoration kickball tournament, and our Grilled Cheese with DST event; all benefiting local non-profits.

Deltas making grilled cheese in support of the Carnation Restoration.

I also work for the Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement on campus. The Regula Center helps plan service events for students on campus, also benefiting the Alliance community. With many of the same community partners as Delta Sigma Tau, I get to assist in planning different events and prepare the “behind the scenes” work before attending! Two of my favorite events the Regula Center holds are Trick-Or-Treat for Canned Goods, and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Regula Center student-workers at the beginning-of-the-year retreat!

Trick-Or-Treat for Canned Goods allows students to go around the Alliance area collecting donations for the Alliance Community Pantry on Halloween. Not only do students have the opportunity to volunteer, they also get to bond with other students in various organizations across campus. The annual MLK Day of Service allows students to sign up to volunteer at various locations across campus and throughout the Alliance community, hosting around 400 student volunteers each year!

Group of students volunteering for the 2023 MLK Day of Service

Volunteering holds a special place in my heart because when I was younger, my family needed this same support. My mom, unfortunately, got very sick and could no longer work. It put us in a hard position, and we even had to get resources from a local food pantry for a period of time. Being able to now volunteer at, and raise money, for similar organizations has truly been a full-circle moment, and I love seeing how I can help others in a position that I once was in. I’m so thankful that Mount Union has provided me with so many opportunities to give back to the community by volunteering and having the chance to make a direct impact on someone's life!