Seton Hall’s Rotary chapter, an organization open to students across all majors, is a chapter within a national cohort engaging in volunteering, community involvement, and servant leadership.
Seton Hall’s Rotary chapter has an established reputation, formerly being awarded two Presidential Citations by former South Orange Rotary President Stacey Borden. After a brief dissolution following the COVID-19 pandemic, student leaders are renewing the ambition of servant leadership within this club.
This growing cohort leads efforts that serve the greater benefit of local communities, upholding Seton Hall’s core value of servant leadership.
The SHU Rotaract Club engages in student-led activities meant to develop leadership skills and serve neighboring communities, including professional development sessions and service projects with coordinated projects and volunteer events. Recently, the club has hosted weekly park cleanings in Meadowland Park, with plans to partner with organizations like Irvington Neighborhood Improvement Corp. to plan and execute community volunteering projects.
Club President David Gomez, a first-year student majoring in diplomacy and international relations, first participated in a Rotary-sponsored high school club. Gomez said he was interested in the community and international aspects of the Rotary Club and is now looking forward to leading volunteer efforts in the wider South Orange area.
Through his position, Gomez emphasized the positive impact of volunteering: “It can often feel silly to do good things, but in retrospect, you can always see the good of something with the benefit of hindsight.”
With his experience in this organization, Gomez said that joining Rotaract is a great opportunity to be a foundational member of Seton Hall’s chapter and form lasting friends and connections.
SHU Rotaract is an opportunity to be a part of a recognized community service organization and partner with like-minded students to form tangible change. Hosting most of their volunteer efforts within walking distance of our campus, Gomez emphasized how this club makes a lasting impact on the local community.
“Volunteering is a donation of time, and while time is always valuable, to give it freely and willingly is a virtue of its own,” Gomez said.
Rachele Bifulco is SHU Rotaracts’ secretary and a first-year political science major. While there is a focus on volunteering service, Rachele emphasized the community formed by students in SHU Rotaract as “passionate, dedicated, and compassionate.”
With room for growth as an organization, Bifulco shared the club’s ambitions of expanding partnerships with South Orange Rotary and organizing and executing wider community service projects.
Megon Henry, a first-year political science major and a part of SHU Rotaract’s board, said this club is an opportunity to give back to the community while promoting integrity and ethical development.
Henry said her experience has been empowering, as each volunteering project is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. As an executive board member, she stated that she focuses on expanding the potential of work and volunteer service.
Focusing its operations on local park cleanups, the Rotaract Club is expanding its operations to local food banks with the goal of holding joint food drives. Additionally, there are opportunities to join the growing executive board during the renewal of this club.
“This semester is a great opportunity to be one of the founding members of a club dedicated to service to others, and make some good friendships while we’re at it,” Gomez said.
Students looking to practice servant leadership, give back to local communities, and contribute to a global community service organization can find updates and upcoming volunteer opportunities on Engage or their Instagram @shu.rotaract.
Tiffany Clay is a writer for The Setonian’s Campus Life section. She can be reached at tiffany.clay@student.shu.edu.
