Whether it be collecting gifts for the homeless, helping out at local food shelters,  fundraising for one of their many service partners, assisting in the Special Olympics of Virginia, serving food at senior citizen centers nearby, or participating in the D.C. Stop Modern Slavery Walk, NOVA students from both the Alexandria and the Woodbridge campuses seem eager to follow the motto “Live to serve, love to serve” of their collegiate community service organization Circle K International, also known as CKI.

This organization, with more than 12,600 members in 17 nations, puts an emphasis on service and leadership, as well as fellowship. Anybody who is familiar with the widely known community service organization Key Club in high schools all over may have already heard of CKI, which is sponsored by the same global volunteer organization, Kiwanis.

Every year, CKI members perform more than one million hours of community service both on and off campus. Oftentimes they collaborate with one of their four service partners: UNICEF, Better World Books, March of Dimes (an organization fighting premature birth) and Students Team Up To Fight Hunger. While service is the heart of CKI in an attempt to make the world a better place, one student, one member and one community at a time, Circle K also emphasizes the establishment of lifelong relationships among its members and providing first-class leadership opportunities on an individual club, divisional, district and international level. At its annual district and international conferences, held at different locations each year, CKI provides each member with experiential training and the resources to one day become an active citizen. While NOVA provides its campuses with outstanding support and excellent advisors, both the Alexandria and the Woodbridge club hold weekly meetings led by their own elected officers, determine their own service activities and are always welcoming new members.

Judith Theissen is a member of Circle K International.

By: Judith Theissen

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