Alumni from IMPACT 360 returned and joined current students for a day of community service Saturday, April 17.
“Our mission is to equip Christ-centered servant leaders, so what better reason could alumni have than to come back to serve the community,” said Katy Thompson, enrollment manager at IMPACT 360.
About 20 of the 54 alumni returned for the event, joining the current class of 25 students to complete four projects in Pine Mountain and Pine Mountain Valley. Projects included yard maintenance and clearing debris for elderly homeowners; painting a mural at a church; doing maintenance at the Pine Mountain volunteer fire department; and holding a block party for children.
“This is the first time for alumni and students to organize an event like this,” said David Parker, an alumnus of IMPACT 360 and a recent graduate of Georgia Tech. “We’re coming not just to serve Pine Mountain, but also to serve this set of students. We want to encourage them and help them look for ways to serve their immediate community.”
Although all IMPACT 360 students are required to volunteer in the community four hours a week, Parker hopes Saturday’s event will be a continuing addition to the IMPACT experience.
“We’d like to see a growing involvement between the students and the community. It’s more than just putting in service hours, it’s really about building relationships,” Parker said.
IMPACT 360 is a gap-year program designed for students who have graduated high school. The program helps students sharpen their leadership skills, learn how to defend their faith, discover their gifts and talents, and intentionally invest in the local community and another country.