January 16, 2025
During a 1957 speech in Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Ursuline students will answer that question while participating in the MLK Jr. National Day of Service to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy on Monday, January 20. While the College will be closed in observance of the holiday, undergraduate and graduate students along with faculty and staff will gather at 9:15 a.m. to board buses to visit senior citizens and others at assisted living facilities.
“Currently, 70 students have signed up to brave the cold to share conversations, snacks, and some old-fashioned fun with the residents at five different locations,” states Yolanda King, assistant vice president of diversity, inclusion and belonging. “They will play board games and enjoy activities like adult coloring books and word search puzzles to provide a couple of hours of companionship for both parties.”
The students, faculty and staff then return to campus for lunch and talk about their experiences from the day.
King explains, “Our students get just as much out of the visits as the residents. Many miss their families, especially their grandparents. It’s a chance to make a difference in someone’s life and live the College’s missions of service, leadership, and professional excellence.”
Ursuline College will visit Cedarwood Plaza, Cedar Living, Highland Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center, and student-favorite Merici Crossings, the home of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.
This annual event is sponsored by numerous offices within the College including the Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging; Office of the President; Student Activities; Athletics; the STAR Program; Campus Ministry; and the Women’s Center.