Are you ready for the Bison Service Challenge?
"In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it."-Marianne Williamson
What is the Bison Service Challenge?
The Bison Service Challenge (BSC) will consist of the 5 groups; Athletics, Greek Life, Residence Halls, Student Organizations, and Individual. Each group will be broken down into their specific sub-groups. For example, Athletics will be broken down into the 12 different teams and each team will compete against one another for the most service hours. The same would hold true for the other four groups. This will allow for friendly competition but also encourage students to join together and serve the needs of the community. The competition is not between the 5 large groups listed above, it is between the sub-groups that fall under the 5 large groups. So ultimately there will be 5 winners of the Bison Service Challenge, one Athletic team, one Fraternity/Sorority, one Residence Hall, one Student Organization, and one Student.
How to Register and Submit Hours
To participate in the Bison Service Challenge...
First, Register Your Group. If You are an Individual, You Do Not Need to Register (see below)
To register your Athletic Team, Fraternity/Sorority, Residence Hall, or Student Organization, fill out this form.
Then, Submit Your Hours for Your Group.
Make sure you come back to submit your hours by filling out this form.
If You are an Individual, You Do Not Need to Register
You do not have to belong to a group to participate! We value every hour, done by every individual no matter how big or small! Submit your individual efforts and add to the NDSU total!
If you ARE NOT affiliated with an Athletic Team, Fraternity/Sorority, Residence Hall, or Student Organization you can compete as an individual. Just fill out the Individual Submission Form to log your hours.
If you ARE affiliated with an Athletic Team, Fraternity/Sorority, Residence Hall, or Student Organization (meaning, you have a registered Group) and you also want to compete as an individual, make sure your Group has filled out the Group Submission Form, then, fill out the Individual Submission Form to log your individual hours.
We do not have a point system for the individual challenge, because it is one against one, which will allow us to use strictly service hours for the competition.
Check the current standings of the five groups participating:
Individuals
How does a sub-group win?
The volunteer network recognizes that each group has a variety of sub-groups that are not equal in size. For example, the football team has 100 student participants and the golf team only has 9 students. So we have developed a system that will take into account the number of hours done by a sub-group and the number of members the sub-groups has so our system can fairly distribute points for the competition. This same system will work for Student Organizations, Residence Halls, and Greeks. If any members of your sub-group would like to be recognized and compete in the individual challenge please have them also fill out the Individual Section under "Submit your Team Or Individual service hours here".
Recognition
The BSC will continue until April 23rd, at this time we will announce the winning sup-groups and hold a banquette/celebration in their honor. During this time the winning fraternity/sorority, residence hall, student organization, Individual, and athletic team will select a charity to donate the 500 dollars and also will be recognized with a trophy. More details to follow.
Why should you participate in the Bison Service Challenge?
1. To learn something about yourself. Keeping a dated journal of your thoughts and feelings during the service project. Reflecting on your service experience will help you grow and develop tremendously!
2. To have fun! Doing something you love, and working with peers equals an amazing experience!
3. Because you're passionate about a cause. Volunteer and be involved in something you really care about!
4. To explore career possibilities. By volunteering at your local community agencies you can find out if you're interested in going into specific fields and creating networking opportunities.
5. It's time to get off the couch. As a college student your time is extremely valuable, from in class and out of class activities, but the Volunteer Network Challenges you to find time to strengthen the community and grow as an individual through service! Be productive for a change!!
6. Learn some new skills…and add them to your resume! You can learn a ton from volunteering, and what a great way to add stuff to your resume for future jobs!
7. To fulfill graduation requirements. Maybe you need to volunteer for 50 hours in order to graduate. Awesome! Get out there and volunteer your time (and who knows, maybe you'll do extra hours because it's so awesome!)
8. Make someone else's day. Your extra little effort to help someone or some organization out can make a world of a difference to them. You can be the change agent they need!
9. Feel good about yourself! Know that, after volunteering, you did something great. Really great. Be proud of yourself. Heck, treat yourself to some ice cream.
10. Have Bison Pride in everything you do! A bison always seeks ways to serve and learn!
Sponsors
FirstLink - We want to thank Firstlink for connecting us with agencies throughout the Fargo/Moorhead area. Without Firstlink the Bison Service Challenge would not be possible.
Dakota Medical Foundation - We want to thank the Dakota Medical Foundation for their financial support. DMF generously provided a $3500 grant specifically designed for the Bison Service Challenge. 2500 dollars of the grant will be divided into 5 checks for 500 dollars apiece and will be presented to the winning fraternity/sorority, residence hall, student organization, Individual, and athletic team. The winning group will then donate the 500 dollar check to one of the charities (non-profits) associated with the Dakota Medical Foundation.
Impact - We want to thank Impact for all the support and energy they have contributed to the Bison Service Challenge. Without their efforts this challenge would not be possible.
Volunteer Network - A Big thank you goes out to the 6 Volunteer Network Coordinators at NDSU that has made this opportunity possible through their hard work and determination. Thank you! I am very fortunate to have a wonderful staff!
