Year of Service

To celebrate 50 years as Durham and Orange counties’ community college, Durham Tech participated in a Year of Service to the community in the year preceding the anniversary. From October 2010 to September 2011, students, alumni, faculty and staff served 4, 356 hours at the college’s designated community partners and other area non-profit agencies.

The Year of Service began with a kickoff event on October 22, 2010 during which faculty and staff were introduced to service plans.  Guest speaker Christopher Gergen, co-founder and executive director of Bull City Forward, emphasized the importance of volunteering service to the community and new directions in service, including the burgeoning developments in social entrepreneurship. During the event, faculty and staff learned about volunteer opportunities from community partners, signed a service pledge to commit to volunteering, and also completed a service project. 

The Year of Service concluded with Durham Tech’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on September 16, 2011, during which inaugural service awards were presented to students, student clubs, and employees who exemplified successful engagement with their communities. Totals for the Year of Service were also unveiled:

Hours to Our Community Partners: 950
Hours through Student Clubs: 1,439
Hours by Students: 1,179
Hours by Employees: 3,177
Total Hours Served: 4,356!

The Year of Service provided an excellent launch for Durham Tech’s coordinated community engagement activities. Although the Year of Service has ended, community engagement is still a strategic initiative for the college.  We hope that you will continue to find ways to serve your community. Check the Volunteer Opportunities page for your chance to get involved and make a difference here in Durham!