Why Students Can’t Miss the “First Friday BBQ”
Make sure your students mark their calendars for the first Friday after classes begin! On September 6th from 11am-2pm on the Quad, students can enjoy a free BBQ lunch while learning about premier ways to engage the Gonzaga experience outside the classroom.
This event is hosted by three university departments: CCASL (Center for Community Action and Service Learning), UMEC (Unity Multicultural Education Center) and UMin (University Ministry). In addition to enjoying a fabulous lunch, students will be able to meet professional staff, talk with student leaders, make new friends, and learn about the many opportunities available to them in the areas of service, diversity and faith.
Gonzaga seeks to foster a campus culture in which students can work toward not only their academic degree, but also a cohesive life characterized by responsibility, respect, compassion, reflection and the integration of mind, body and soul. Thus, the university provides near-limitless opportunities for students to serve locally and globally, build competence in relating to people who are different, and develop habits of heart and soul which will lead to an authentic and meaningful life. There’s no time too soon to find out which opportunity calls to you!
More information about the three departments is included below:
CCASL
In the Ignatian Tradition of educating women and men for and with others, CCASL seeks to develop students with an ethic of service and a lifelong thirst for social justice. The center has robust service opportunities for students, including one-day projects, ongoing weekly mentoring of local youth, winter and spring break service trips and much, much more. Over 2,000 student volunteers and 100 student leaders form a vibrant community where students learn, serve and grow together. They will have the chance to form a passion for service, develop new skills, become a leader among their peers and create memories that will last a lifetime. More information about CCASL can be found at www.gonzaga.edu/ccasl or facebook.com/ccasl.
UMEC
In alignment with Gonzaga’s faith-inspired commitment to diversity, the Unity Multicultural Education Center (UMEC) provides educational opportunities that cultivates mindfulness, intercultural development and supports the benefits of a pluralistic and inclusive environment. The Unity Multicultural Education Center offers key programs such as the pre-orientation program Building Relationships in Diverse Gonzaga Environments (BRIDGE), a mentoring program in Leadership, Education , Academic Development and Success Skills (LEADS), Multicultural Honor Society (MCHS), and the Intentional Initiatives workshops. UMEC also provides events, such as the campus-wide Diversity Monologues throughout each academic year. All of the previously mentioned programs are developed with the intention of building a community of equity and inclusion that guides and challenges all to respect and value human difference.
University Ministry
Gonzaga University, through its Jesuit, Catholic and humanistic mission, offers students a distinct educational experience marked by a commitment to developing the whole student. University Ministry participates in this formation by providing opportunities for students to explore spirituality and faith in a dynamic and relevant way. Through a wealth of opportunities, including retreats, liturgies, programs and events, students are invited to integrate faith and life, to discover their unique callings and to reach out in service to others. More information about University Ministry can be found at www.gonzaga.edu/um or www.facebook.com/umingu.