Standards to meet:
You will need to fill out STEM Center Volunteer Service Form. Plan ahead!
- Volunteer to give back to your community for at least 30 hours. Most of our Distinction Graduates serve well over this minimum.
- On-going commitment to one or two organizations is more valuable than a little here and a little there. Show some leadership!
- Include proper documentation, pictures, other artifacts, and a reflection about each volunteer experience.
- You must have official STEM documentation forms signed. See this form link below.
- In your portfolio, make it very clear how many hours you served for each experience.
- Be sure that you understand what counts as volunteerism and what does not.
- For example, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, DC Humane Society, Storehouse for Jesus, Habitat for Humanity, local fire departments, Scouting activities, etc. would qualify. You can also participate in scheduled Volunteer Days at Davie High.
- In almost all cases, it should be for a non-profit. Volunteering through your church, your scouting group, or some other community organization is acceptable.
- What does not count:
- Any activity for which you are paid
- Any activity that takes place during the school day or as part of a class
- Any activity that you perform for a family member (You’re supposed to rake your grandmother’s leaves. She is your grandmother. You should do that anyway!)
- Any activity at a business (e.g. I volunteer at the vet’s office/the horse stable down the road/the dentist’s office). You might be able to count that type of experience as shadowing and possibly some enrichment, but not volunteerism.
- Volunteer hours for other DHS extracurricular groups (NHS, sports team, etc.) can count toward STEM hours. Hours required by a classroom teacher do not qualify.
- If any of your experiences with volunteerism includes some form of leadership, indicate that in your reflection.
You will need to fill out STEM Center Volunteer Service Form. Plan ahead!