Honors Week of Service: August 11-16, 2024

Registration Information

Registration Opens: May 23, 2024 | 12 pm (CST)

The Week of Service is limited to the first 100 participants registered. We encourage you to register as soon as you know you are interested. We do keep a waitlist and contact interested parties if there is an open spot. Please check your Auburn University email for updates. Registration will close on July 15th at 12pm CST.  

What is Week of Service?

The Week of Service program is in its eleventh year and is a student-led, annual event hosted by the Auburn University Honors College committed to teaching incoming freshmen about poverty and showing them how they can serve in the Lee County community and beyond. Each day consists of a new service site, new information about poverty from a speaker or film, educational activities, and additional activities. The goal of the Week of Service Program is to spark a desire for service within each participant and to give them an excellent introduction to Auburn University. Participants will have the opportunity to make friends with other incoming first-year students while also being led through the week by an upperclassman Honors College student.

Mission Statement

The Week of Service program is dedicated to education, justice, and service. We seek to bring awareness to the causes and consequences of poverty at the national, state, and local levels. We empower students to live with empathy and compassion and to build relationships as their most authentic selves with each other and their communities. The Week of Service is a call to action: to better our community through understanding, advocacy, and helping others who need it most.

Follow Us To Learn More About Past Week of Service Events

Why Poverty?

Auburn University Honors College adopted the theme of poverty to raise awareness of both its causes and effects across the state of Alabama, the United States of America, and the world. This program is designed to give incoming Honors College freshmen first-hand experiences with poverty at a local level. The program includes thoughtful conversation and personal reflection for all its participants. Overall, previous students consider the week to be “impactful, eye-opening, and transformative.”  

The program is designed to give participants an experience that is both challenging and enlightening. A traditional academic approach is mixed with hands-on learning to help participants develop a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding poverty. Thanks to this program, these students are creating an environment of service that is true to the mission of Auburn University.  

Meet Your Counselors

Head Counselors

Emily Pouder
Hometown: Tampa, Florida   
Major: Political Science and International Studies, Pre-Law  
Favorite Song: “Invisible String” by Taylor Swift  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Irritable Bao  
Emory Clifford
Hometown: Bentonville, Arkansas  
Major: Mechanical Engineering   
Favorite Song: “I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Ariccia  
Nic Brannon
Hometown: Lexington, Alabama  
Major: Aerospace Engineering  
Favorite Song: “The Wonder of You” by Elvis Presley  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Bow & Arrow  
Savannah Britt
Hometown: Auburn, Alabama  
Major: Conservation and Biodiversity  
Favorite Song: “Saturn” by SZA  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Good Karma  

WOS Counselors

WOS Counselors

Abbey Quinn
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama  
Major: Political Science   
Favorite Song: “Spud Infinity” by Big Thief   
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Guthrie’s  
Carly Parker
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama  
Major: Microbiology: Cell and Molecular Biology  
Favorite Song: “Graceland Too” by Phoebe Bridgers  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Acre  
Connor Waters
Hometown: Mebane, North Carolina  
Major: Biological and Agricultural Technologies Management   
Favorite Song: “Better Together” by Jack Johnson   
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Panda Express  
Dillon Hammell
Hometown: Aiken, South Carolina  
Major: Microbiology  
Favorite Song: “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas   
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Village Dining   
Ella Monroe
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama  
Major: Landscape Horticulture   
Favorite Song: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Irritable Bao  
Khia Thomas
Hometown: Alabaster, Alabama  
Major: Chemical Engineering with a Biomedical specialization  
Favorite Song: “Back on 74” by Jungle  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: My kitchen  
Michaela Robinson
Hometown: Huntsville, Alabama  
Major: Elementary Education  
Favorite Song: “Satellite” by Harry Styles  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Guthrie's  
Olivia Ray
Hometown: Fayetteville, Georgia   
Major: Biosystems Engineering, Ecological Engineering  
Favorite Song: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell   
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Lemongrass Thai  
Sean Connolly
Hometown: Houston, Texas  
Major: Psychology, Premed Focus  
Favorite Song: “Heaven Sent” by The Steeldrivers  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: The Depot  
Selah Whitley
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama  
Major: Nursing and Spanish  
Favorite Song: “Palomino Gold” by The Wilder Blue  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Chipotle  
Taylor Gunn
Hometown: Wetumpka, Alabama  
Major: Electrical Engineering  
Favorite Song: “Coaster” by Khalid  
Favorite place to eat in Auburn: Philly Connections 

WoS Staff Information

WoS Staff Information

Maggie Rogers
Week of Service Coordinator 
Contact information: mvr0008@auburn.edu 
Anna Grace Estes
Week of Service Student Intern 

FAQs

Each day begins at a different service site where participants will spend 3 to 4 hours, followed by lunch on your own. During the day, participants will hear from speakers, watch and discuss films, engage in educational activities, and have dinner as a group. The day ends with a fun, optional activity. Follow our Instagram, @auweekofservice, as we release a detailed schedule each day throughout the week! 

While we do not want to spoil the surprise of service locations for this year yet, we have worked with a lot of great organizations in the past and will work with many great organizations again this year! Some past service sites that we loved are Storybook Farm, Alabama Rural Ministries, Food Bank of East Alabama, Habitat for Humanity Restore, and Reading is Fundamental. To stay updated about service locations, stay tuned to our Instagram page @auweekofservice 

The Week of Service also includes activities such as film reviews and discussions, educational activities, lectures from guest speakers, and social opportunities.

While we do have a busy schedule, there are times during the day where participants will have free time as well as optional activities where participation is not required.

As you are preparing to move to on or off-campus housing for the school year, keep these items in mind specifically for Week of Service:

  • Closed-toe shoes

  • Sunscreen

  • Bug spray

  • Clothes you don’t mind working in/getting dirty

  • Personal bag (such as a drawstring bag)

No, participants are free to drive and carpool, but transportation will be provided for those without vehicles.

No, any incoming Honors College freshman is eligible to apply.

Yes, in order to provide this service-learning experience, participants are responsible for a $75 programmatic fee. This fee helps to cover expenses such as meals, a t-shirt, reservations, some activities, and transportation.

For those who are moving on-campus early, there is a separate Early Housing Move-In Fee of $90 that will be charged directly to the student. Students living off-campus should be make arrangements with their place of residence to be moved in and settled by the Week of Service Kick-Off

Housing will send out specific instructions on when and where to get your room key.

Yes, register for move-in as usual. If you choose to participate, the Honors College will notify you and place you on a modified early move-in schedule.

Some meals are provided during the Week of Service. A schedule will be provided that clearly indicates when and where meals and snacks will be provided. Participants with special dietary restrictions will be accommodated as much as possible. There will be limited dining options available on-campus during the week.

The Week of Service runs all day with a combination of mandatory and some optional activities. In order to fully experience the program, it is recommended that participants not be involved in any other activities during the week.

This optional class is a 1 credit hour pass/fail Honors College participation course held in the Fall semester. See Course Offering: HONR 1087.

At the time of registering for Week of Service, you will indicate if you would like to be enrolled in the course for the Fall 2022 semester. Honors College staff will then place students in the course. This class will remain closed throughout Camp War Eagle (CWE) since only participants are eligible to be in the class.

A day-by-day schedule will be provided at the beginning of the week. We will also have a GroupMe where text updates will be sent.   
Last updated: 07/12/2024