Community Engagement

Community engagement is core to University School's mission which states the goal of inspiring “boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve.” At University School, we work closely with young people as both students and engaged citizens. By nurturing the intellectual, physical, moral, and emotional development of our students, we emphasize the value of community and helping others in the world outside our school. It is also important that we offer opportunities to exercise this initiative.

Lower School students begin community engagement during kindergarten by focusing on the campus community. During first grade, they bake and sell dog treats to raise money for the Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village and also make fleece blankets to donate. Second grade students bring in and record their favorite books and make puppets for children at the Cleveland Clinic’s Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation. Third graders meet with, thank, and give goodies to community service providers such as the Shaker Heights Fire Fighters and Police officers. In fourth grade, boys read to children and help teachers with projects at Head Start.

All Middle School students are required to contribute six hours of service work each year. For seventh and eighth graders this includes two hours of “off-campus” volunteering. Typically, students perform established tasks that benefit the school community such as helping at an athletic event or collecting recycling. In addition, the Middle School offers boys opportunities to connect with the larger Cleveland community. For example, students may volunteer at the Cleveland Food Bank. Other community engagement components include boys making and delivering soup on a weekly basis to an inner-city soup kitchen and each grade level taking a half-day to participate in an off-campus event of the team’s choice. Students may also design or take advantage of existing off-campus service opportunities by working with religious organizations or community-based groups. Finally, the Student Council helps to organize several activities including a Thanksgiving food drive, fundraisers for various charities, and service activities with other local schools.

The Aurelian Service Program at the Upper School embodies the school's mission to inspire boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve. Through this program, students engage in meaningful community service, cultivating leadership, empathy, and a sense of responsibility. By requiring 60 hours of service, with a minimum of 15 hours each year, the program encourages consistent and sustained engagement with the community beyond the walls of the school. Service activities must be performed through non-profit organizations, ensuring that students contribute to causes that genuinely benefit others, whether through environmental stewardship, mentoring, or supporting vulnerable populations. Ultimately, the Aurelian Service Program helps shape young men who lead by example and are committed to making a positive impact in the world.

Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere

Daniel W. LoPresti '03 Philanthropic Board

The Daniel W. LoPresti '03 Philanthropic Board is an Upper School student-run group through which students engage in community service, learn the institutional skills necessary for philanthropy, raise funds to support their philanthropic goals, and solicit and make grants that help those in need. The Board's intention is to improve the quality of life of children in poverty in the Greater Cleveland area, with an emphasis on education.

If you have an interest in funding a grant or would like more information, please contact Mr. Ben Malbasa '96 at bmalbasa@us.edu.