There is a rustic model house on a shelf in Jodi Kennedy’s office. It’s made of scrap wood collected and constructed by a group of incoming Georgia Southern University freshmen.
“It represents how something really simple can change lives,” said Kennedy, Office of Leadership and Community Engagement (OLCE) director at Georgia Southern University.
The little model house has been with Kennedy for nearly 20 years now. The then-new students built it after volunteering for Habitat for Humanity as part of the University’s BUILD initiative.
Since its inception in 2006, the BUILD (Building Undergraduates in Leadership Development) program at Georgia Southern has been a transformative experience for incoming freshmen. BUILD began with a focus on community service and leadership through activities like Habitat for Humanity projects and backpacking adventures.
Today, the program has evolved to encompass a broader range of service opportunities while maintaining its core mission of community engagement and leadership development.
Kennedy has been an organizer for BUILD for all 17 years of its operation, having worked with 170 BUILD leaders and 1,339 participants. The number of leaders and participants grows each year. BUILD leaders are upperclassmen who serve alongside the students and lead them through small group discussions and reflections on various leadership topics. This year, there are 70 students working with 21 organizations, including United Way, Action Pact and Kennedy Pond Conservancy, during the weeklong program.
“It's that continuing aspect of building in your community,” she said. “We get them here for five days, but from there on, the relationships are maintained. I think it connects them not just to our office and the program, but to Georgia Southern. I feel like there's a really cool legacy piece there.”
The program's benefits extend beyond the immediate impact of community service. The OLCE research indicates that students who participate in BUILD have higher retention rates and grades compared to their peers.
“They feel comfortable before they even get here,” Kennedy added. “They're successful in their courses. They see people they know on campus and are connected to our office. We really are intentional in trying to maintain the relationship so they know what's going on on-campus and find other avenues to get involved. We want them to find their niche, whether it's with us or somebody else.”
The immersive experience includes living in residence halls, dining on campus and participating in activities designed to familiarize them with University life and the surrounding Statesboro community.
The BUILD program is more than just a pre-semester orientation; it is a foundational experience that prepares students for academic and personal success, fosters community engagement and nurtures a spirit of volunteerism that benefits both the University and the broader Statesboro community.
“It's just such a win-win,” Kennedy said.
For more information on BUILD, visit this webpage.
