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Community Engagement Requirements

Each student at SI is required to complete 75 hours of community engagement between the first day of their freshman year and the first day of their senior year. It is our mission for students to engage with communities and non-profit organizations they are passionate about, while also having them venture outside of their comfort zones and into their local communities. Service requirements are as follows:

Classes of 2026, 2027 and 2028 

Class of 2028: 9th Grade, 15 Engagement Hours

  • All students will receive 5 engagement hours for their participation in the required Frosh Retreat. 
  • Students must complete an additional 10 engagement hours between the first day of frosh year and May 1, 2025. All hours must be completed at a registered non-profit organization. Students may volunteer at one or multiple registered non-profit organizations to complete their 10 Frosh engagement hours. 

Class of 2027: 10th Grade, 20 Engagement Hours

  • Students must log 20 engagement hours between May 2, 2024, and May 1, 2025, at a registered non-profit organization. Students may volunteer at one or multiple registered non-profit organizations to complete their 20 Sophomore engagagement hours.  

Class of 2027 & 2026: Core Project completed within 6 months between January 1st of Sophomore year and the first day of Senior year. 

  • Students must log 40 Core hours between January 1 of their sophomore year and the first day of their senior year. Students must engage in direct service with a registered non-profit organization promoting human dignity and addressing a social justice issue(s). 
  • Students must submit a Core Project Proposal and receive approval of their Core site before beginning their Core Project. 
  • Students are also required to complete a 10 question Core Capstone Assignment upon completion of their 40 Core hours. 

Engagement Hour Guidelines: 

  • Students will log all of their hours on MobileServe, our online engagement hours tracker.
  • Engagement hours must be completed at a registered non-profit agency/organization. 
    • Does not qualify: Volunteering with any sports club that does not hold registered 501(c)(3) non-profit status. 
  • Hours must be verified by an adult volunteer supervisor at the non-profit organization with a .gov, .edu, or .org email address.
    • A volunteer supervisor or verifier cannot be a parent/guardian.
    • Students cannot verify hours for other students.
    • Students cannot verify their own hours. 
  • Students cannot volunteer for other SI students to gain service hours.
    • Qualifies: Coaching middle school students at SI Summer School.
    • Does not qualify: Volunteering in the weight room to help SI students.
  • Students cannot pay to participate. Volunteer work that requires payment does not qualify for engagement hours for graduation.
    • Examples include Amigos de las Americas, Be2Live, and Rustic Pathways.
  • PLEASE NOTE: We do not credit hours from: 
    • partisan political organizations, on-campus club fundraisers, babysitting, tutoring a neighbor’s child, mowing a neighbor’s lawn, and altar serving or lectoring at church services.

How to Get Started: 

Call or email some non-profit agencies/organizations to determine if they could be a good fit. Students can use the Community Engagement Directory or contact any local non-profit organization to identify engagement opportunities. A sample email is as follows:

Dear (Volunteer Supervisor’s Name Here),

My name is (Full Name) and I am a (Class Year) at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. I’m interested in volunteering with (Non-Profit Organization Name) over my (Period of Time). I am available between (Dates or Days and Times).

Could you provide me with information on how to sign up for volunteer shifts? What next steps do I need to take to begin volunteering?

I appreciate your help! I hope you are well.

Sincerely,
(Full Name)

Between Jan. 1 of Sophomore year and 1st day of Senior year: Core Capstone Project - 40 Hours and Core Capstone Assignment 

  • Students must complete their 40 Core Hours and Core Capstone Assignment between January 1st of their Sophomore year and the first day of their Senior year.

The goals of the Core Capstone Project are to engage students in volunteering beyond their immediate community, push them to explore new social justice issues, and encourage a commitment to one nonprofit organization for the duration of the project. By providing hands-on, direct service, students build meaningful, personal connections with communities and persons in ways that transform their commitment to justice. The Core Capstone Project engages students in social analysis and reflection, inviting them to ask questions about the root causes of social issues and make connections to their faith. The Core Capstone Project is at the heart of a Jesuit education because it challenges students to develop their own gifts and talents, examine structural injustices, and discern how to build a more just world. 

Students plan, prepare, and engage in a Core Capstone Project with the goal that this experience will challenge them to:

  1. Utilize their planning skills, creating and implementing a project that builds upon their passions and special gifts.
  2. Go beyond their immediate community to provide personal, hands-on service to others in a way that supports human dignity and addresses a social justice issue.
  3. Make a commitment to one issue and one agency for the duration of the project. Core Capstone Projects can be any length as determined by the student and the needs of  the non-profit organization.
  4. Provide direct, interpersonal volunteering to non-profit organizations supporting the promotion of human dignity by addressing social justice issues in communities
  5. Reflect critically and spiritually through the Core Capstone Assignment.

Core Capstone Project Guidelines:

  • Students complete 40 hours for their Core Capstone Project.
  • Students research and contact a non-profit organization of interest to them. 
  • After initial contact, students must submit a proposal via this Google Form to be approved by the Arrupe Center for Social Justice before starting their volunteer work for the Core Capstone Project. 
  • Students must complete a Core Capstone Assignment.
  • Students have 6 months to complete their 40 service hours and Core Capstone Assignment after receiving approval of their proposal. 
  • Each student must complete 40 hours and Core Capstone Assignment before the first day of their Senior year.
  • Students cannot pay to participate; volunteer work that requires payment does not qualify for service at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. 

For any additional information or questions, please reach out to our office at arrupecenter@siprep.org, or stop by the Arrupe Center for Social Justice in the student center during school hours.