Buckley Community Service Director Chris Braunschweiger has a goal: to have each student’s community service work come from the heart, rather than from obligation. She has developed a program specifically intended to develop personal interests in service.

In the Upper School, required community service shifts from the in-class and grade-level service projects of the Lower and Middle School to 25 hours of annual, individual service. Students in ninth and tenth grade are encouraged to take on a variety of service activities that hopefully will lead them to the critical intersection of personal interests and community service passion. The progression of community service culminates with a two-year junior/senior individual project during which students contribute the majority of their hours to a single non-profit agency. Juniors submit a community service proposal for approval of their project, while seniors write a paper about their two-year project.

Ms. Braunschweiger is reaching her goal. Last year, 25 percent of all high school students earned community service honors designation, including an incredible 50 percent of the senior class. In addition, 59 students earned bronze, silver or gold Presidential Service Awards for completing between 100 and 250-plus hours of community service last school year. Buckley students Dare to be True.