Leadership Within Volunteer UCF

Authors

Ryan P. Kaufman, University of Central FloridaFollow
Parker R. Tyson, University of Central FloridaFollow
Ellie J. Clarke, University of Central FloridaFollow
Alayna G. Poore, University of Central FloridaFollow
Nadav Shanun, University of Central FloridaFollow

Streaming Media

Files

Course Code

LDR

Course Number

2002

Faculty/Instructor

Dr. Haley Winston

Faculty/Instructor Email

haley@ucf.edu

About the Author

We are Nadav Shanun, Parker Tyson, Ryan Kaufman, Ellie Clarke, and Alayna Kinkade-Poore. We are a group of LEAD Scholars and this semester, we had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Volunteer UCF to gain a deeper understanding of how non-profit organizations and companies should operate. Our coursework focused on how effective leadership, dedicated volunteers, and committed employees can work together to achieve a common goal. Working with Volunteer UCF allowed us to witness firsthand a remarkable demonstration of authentic leadership, a strong sense of community, and the successful realization of promises and objectives.

We are incredibly thankful for the wonderful opportunity to work with Volunteer UCF and report on their achievements. We would like to acknowledge our professors and peers who influenced and supported our work every step along the way.

Abstract, Summary, or Creative Statement

Our group comes from a variety of backgrounds and majors from New Jersey to Florida and from Engineering to Finance. Volunteer UCF (VUCF) was perfect for us. Though we are all different, we were able to connect through serving our Orlando community.

VUCF’s mission is to allow students to gain valuable knowledge and experience, become connected to volunteer opportunities of their interest, and expand their community outreach, through their events and programs. Volunteer UCF provides service event consultations and recognizes student volunteers for their outstanding service. They work with over 200 community organizations and continue to expand their outreach.

One of the non-profits we worked with through VUCF was Clean the World, which is dedicated to redirecting hotel waste from landfills to countries and communities facing shortages. Through our efforts, we made a tangible difference for individuals in lower-income or developing nations lacking basic hygiene necessities. In addition, VUCF’s commitment extends to various community service initiatives such as pet adoption events, litter cleanups during hikes, and other volunteer opportunities, ensuring a deeper impact for those they serve throughout the Orlando area.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords

education; service-learning; Volunteering; Volunteer UCF; LEAD; LEAD Scholars; community; Common Purpose; Citizenship; Amy Zeh

Recommended Citation

Kaufman, Ryan P.; Tyson, Parker R.; Clarke, Ellie J.; Poore, Alayna G.; and Shanun, Nadav, "Leadership Within Volunteer UCF" (2024). High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024. 15.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hip-2024spring/15