Howard University’s annual Day of Service returned for its 12th year, introducing new Bison to the university’s tradition (and motto) of truth and service.  

More than 1,600 students joined in the for the annual day of community service Aug. 15, lending a helping hand at more than 80 partnering sites throughout D.C. The day is part of Bison Week, a weeklong series of events that welcomes incoming first year students to the university. Day of Service is coordinated by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel. The service projects emphasize community building through seven service-learning initiatives that address educational disparities, environmental injustices, food and housing insecurity, health disparities, poverty, and violence. 

During the day’s opening ceremony, Howard President Ben Vinson III, Ph.D., reminded student participants that the event is an opportunity to “roll up our sleeves together and [contribute] to making progress on our mission, our motto, Veritas et Utilitas: Truth and Service. 

“Those aren’t just mere words — these are directions for our lives. These words tell us who we are. They beckon us and show us how we show up for others,” Vinson added. “At Howard, learning and service are inseparable.” 

A Call to Action 

Co-Executive Student Director Andrina Jean, a senior majoring in speech pathology, helped to organize the day alongside fellow members of the 2025 Day of Service executive team. Jean shared that the day has become a cornerstone of the Bison legacy.  

“The day is not just an event on the calendar — it’s a call to action,” she said. “It’s a reminder that service is not something that we only do when it’s convenient, but a responsibility we carry as members of this place we call home as we matriculate throughout college.”   

Co-Executive Student Director Naudia Thurman, a senior who's studying psychology, emphasized the significance of the service initiative and how Bison are "serving alongside peers, community leaders, and organizations who're working tirelessly to create a better tomorrow."

Students took the call to action seriously, working hard in nearly 90-degree temperatures at various community centers, packing grocery bags and boxes for communities in need, passing out backpacks full of classroom supplies, and assisting teachers to prepare their school grounds and classrooms for the upcoming academic year.  

Other service opportunities included student volunteers assembling STI self-test kits at the Whitman-Walker Clinic; preparing and serving lunch at the Father McKenna Center for families impacted by homelessness and food insecurity; harvesting vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs at THEARC Farm; and some volunteers used their tech-savvy skills by setting up computers and other electronic devices for partnering sites. 

Several students in Howard’s School of Business worked together to unload boxes and prepare free food parcels with the We are Family Senior Outreach Network organization. First year student Alexander “Amen” Hong, a finance major from Cleveland, said that the service day was worth it after seeing the smiling faces of the residents who received food packages.  

“Our service can encourage the next incoming classes of students to come in and help people because it really makes you feel good to know that you’re helping a lot of people, especially those in need,” said Hong.  

Shade’ Patrick, an international business major from Detroit, agrees, sharing that her fellow Class of 2029 peers are “going to be the next class of leaders, and getting to give help where it’s needed is a good opportunity.” Kendall Cooper, a business marketing major from West Chester, New York, added that “it’s great giving back to a community that’s not [natively] ours but a community that will become ours because we’re going to school here in D.C. Being able to see how these efforts come together is special.”  

Hamid Jalloh, a senior majoring in health sciences from Rochester, New York, led the group of first year students at the We are Family site. Jalloh, who is currently serving as the 49th Mister Howard University, said that this year’s Day of Service was the first one he’s participated in. 

“Before I got to Howard, I wasn’t big on community service because I didn’t know about the opportunities. It’s never too late to get started with service,” said Jalloh. “This was an amazing experience for me, especially seeing our young Black men and women helping out and making sure that this isn’t something that we do just once.” 

Even amid the current presidential administration’s federalization of D.C.’s police force — an effort that’s largely impacting young people living in the city, including Howard students — Jalloh emphasized that Day of Service “shows that regardless of what’s happening, we’re going to stay Howard. 

“Staying true to our service and being truthful in who we are as well … that’s what really brings us together,” he noted. “We’re staying united as we go through difficult times in the country and in the world.” 

A Commitment to Community 

Service isn’t something that’s unfamiliar to many within the Bison community. Sophomore Anieh Anyangwe, a psychology major from North Carolina, was among the students volunteering at Powell Elementary School during Day of Service 2025. Prior to the service day, Anyangwe spent a week serving her local community with her church and underscored her longstanding commitment to service. Her group spent the day building shelves for classrooms, organizing various supplies and materials, and cleaning the school in preparation for its annual back to school event. 

“We’re not doing this for no reason. These young students will benefit from our work, and it’s one of those experiences in which our blood, sweat, and tears are appreciated,” she said.  

First year student Marshall Humphries, a computer science major from Chicago, added that “no matter how little [you serve], it still helps someone out.” Sophomore Drion Kemp, a nursing major, returned to Powell Elementary for a second year to volunteer. Last year, she helped to paint the exterior of the school, and last week, she assisted with cleaning desks and sanitizing classrooms with fellow volunteers.  

“Even though I’m in school to have a career helping the community as a future nurse, I like being hands on, getting my hands dirty, and seeing the direct effects that [my service] has on the community. Realizing that what I’m doing can have a real impact gave me more drive to want to do this again,” Kemp said.  

President Vinson joined Howard students at Powell this year, sharing that he was “inspired by our students, especially our freshman, who delved headfirst into this day of service. I was impressed with how laser focused our students were.” 

O’kiyyah Lyons, principal of Powell Elementary, joined in on that excitement and noted the school’s ongoing partnership with Howard extends beyond its Day of Service.  

“I’m always excited whenever Howard students come to Powell, whether it’s with our Jewels Program where they support students in afterschool or by building relationships with our students with our Jumpstart Program,” said Lyons. “Seeing the university’s students here helping to prepare for the start of the school year is great because we get to say to our students and our families that this work really is a community effort. It’s great that this partnership doesn’t just end with the summer work, we see it throughout the school year.”