DSHS Day of Service benefits community

The idea was mentioned at the high school’s Student Advisory Committee meeting by the then-principal Joe Burns. The idea didn’t die, in fact the idea was a seed in the student’s intellect, something to ponder for a year.

Texas A&M was doing it. It was a community day of service for the area, with the grunts and elbow grease of campus–wide students providing what needed to be done in and around Bryan-College Station. Clean up, pick up and tidy up, making the community a better place to live.

The next year (2019) it was mentioned again at the Student Advisory meeting and the students after considering it for a year thought it was a wonderful idea, giving back to the community.

“It was a big undertaking and from time to time, doubt certainly crept into my mind.  However, every time we met with our student advisory team I left confident,” Burns said.  “Our students did a remarkable job and led the entire process. DSHS students Ali McFadden, Bella Rodriquez, and Maverick Walker really took charge and kept us all on track.”

Two Aggie grads, teachers, Yvonne Kaatz & Mike Lemonds provided inspiration and spoke to the students about the importance of giving back to the community. Somehow it all came together. 

“It was a big dream, only two years ago. (Then) last year was our first year,” DSHS Senior Maverick Walker said. “Dripping Springs means a lot to me.” Walker is eighth generation Drippin’.

 “Teachers were skeptical at first on whether we could pull it off, but it went over without a hitch,” Walker said. About a thousand students, with over 25 different locations, had lots to accomplish with variety of different jobs to do over two days. 

They cleaned up yards, moved trash, painted, built fences, “whatever we could get our hands on.”

Projects are manned  by students who are there from a start to finish, seeing with their own eyes what they each accomplished. “At the end, we had a lot of fun,” Walker said.

This year they will be adding the sophomore class an addition of 1500 backs and pairs of hands for the Day of Service. This year the two days of service will be held on March 10 and 11.

“The day before on the 9th there will be an assemble with everyone participating. We explain why we’re doing this for the community. It’s a chance to show everyone we’re giving back and what we can accomplish,” Walker said. Texas’ first Lady, Cecilia Abbott will also be speaking.

“This year we thought it out. It will be bigger but now we have more experience, we’ll delegate more, be more efficient. Every year we’ll get better and better…we’d like to make this a legacy, to be passed down.”

Freshman will also have a day of service with separate duties, so that it will be a campus-wide event. But local support and sponsors are needed.

“Last year we raised $20,000 from local businesses. They saw our vision and determination,” Walker said. “The city has been very supportive.” Expenses include transportation, t-shirts, food that comes out to about $15 a student. Local businesses have been very helpful but more support is needed. 

The online link to donate is 

drippingspringsisd.revtrak.net/hihgschool/hs-clubs/hs-service-day-club/#/list

The idea behind the day of service was to build a sense of community through the service of others.  The idea was loosely introduced the year before to the principal's advisory for them to consider.  When the concept was brought up again the following year our students latched on. We also discovered that Texas A&M supports a campus wide service day.  Several DSHS staff members that are A&M graduates (Yvonne Kaatz & Mike Lemonds) spoke to our students and provided us with inspiration.  It was a big undertaking and from time to time, doubt certainly crept into my mind.  However, every time we met with our student advisory team I left confident.  Our students did a remarkable job and lead the entire process. DSHS students Ali McFadden, Bella Rodriquez, and Maverick Walker really took charge and kept us all on track.  Their leadership and organizational skills blew my mind and I could not be prouder of them.  I'm glad to hear that the school is continuing the program for the 2019-20 school year and expanding its reach.