At MSA, the community is at the heart of everything we do.
During the Academy, scholars can give back to the local community through a number of volunteer service activities. We believe service is essential to fostering leadership, empathy, and civic responsibility. Through these various service projects, students connect with local leaders and organizations, address needs within the local community, and cultivate a spirit of teamwork amongst themselves.
Ultimately, we hope that scholars learn from these opportunities and return home with the knowledge and passion to improve communities throughout Missouri.
Each Academy, we host Service Saturday where there are multiple opportunities for scholars to participate in service activities. Historically, we have had many service traditions, such as St. Jude letter writing and stream clean-ups.
Through these volunteer opportunities, students are also able to receive credit towards any volunteer hour requirements they might have for school programs or scholarships that will help them going forward.
At the end of the Academy, a single student is selected to receive the Kevin Heisinger Memorial Community Service Award. The recipient of this award is hand-selected by the Community Service Coordinator, the Resident Assistants, and the Faculty.
Below is a selection of photographs from previous Academies highlighting acts of service and a list of organizations we partner with to provide these opportunities!
MSA is proud to have partnered with the following organizations:
- Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center
- City of Refuge
- Columbia Art League
- Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture
- The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri
- P.E.A.C.E. and H.O.P.E. Center for Youth
- Rainbow House
- Ronald McDonald House
- Salvation Army Harbor House
- St. Jude
- Volunteer Columbia
- and more!
