Suffolk Reporter

On August 24, nearly 350 incoming first-year and transfer students participated in Stony Brook University’s fourth annual Community Service Day. This event, organized by the Career Center and the Center for Service Learning and Community Service, provided an opportunity for students to connect while contributing to the university and its surrounding community.

Stony Brook Interim President Richard McCormick welcomed students with a message of purpose. “The best scholars are engaged, empathetic, and eager to repay their debts to those who nurture them,” he said. “By stepping up to serve right at the beginning of your time at Stony Brook, you’re already carving out your place in our large and diverse academic community. As a public university, our mission is not only to teach and conduct research but also to serve. Today, you’re participating actively and directly in that mission.”

Participants across the three campuses (West, East, and Southampton) and the surrounding community took part in 14 service projects designed to foster a sense of community and encourage a commitment to volunteering.

Beth Squire noted that Stony Brook’s newest Seawolves demonstrated their commitment not just to learning but also to serving both Stony Brook and the local community.