The Student Association’s Impact Week came to a close Saturday after a series of community service events and some new features.

Service work included serving dinner at the Samaritan Center and Ronald McDonald House, volunteering at the Rescue Mission and cleaning up Thornden Park. One of the new activities during Impact Week was the “Impact Greek” competition, in which greek organizations competed to see which group could complete the most hours of community service. The Sigma Delta Tau sorority won with more than 30 hours of community service, said Daniela Lopez, a sister in the sorority.

Lopez, a vice presidential candidate for SA’s 58th Session, said the sorority did most of its volunteering at the Humane Society and the Rescue Mission. She said the whole week was great for her organization.

“A huge part of being in greek life is getting involved and giving back to the community,” said Lopez, a junior political science, policy studies and Spanish major. “We also got to meet different people we normally wouldn’t.”

Lopez said her sorority usually focuses on giving back to charities that prevent child abuse, so it was a good experience to give back to other types of organizations during Impact Week.

She said she thought the event was a success for the community and the people who participated in Impact Week.

Impact Week officially concluded with the first-ever Impact Week Gala, a dinner and awards show honoring the students and organizations that took part in service events during the week.

The sold-out gala included musical performances by Anthony and Eric McGriff and the a cappella group Orange Appeal, according to an SA press release.

Nia Boles, chair of the Student Engagement Committee, was the event’s keynote speaker.

“When I was first appointed as Student Engagement chair, Impact Week was the first thing on my plate,” Boles said in her speech, according to the release. “At first it was just an event that needed to be planned, but it turned into something so much greater.”

Boles said she recognized the importance of giving back because she was raised by a single mother in a low-income community.

“Roads were paved for me to be fortunate enough to attend this great university and we must give back and pave the roads for the Syracuse community,” she said.

SA donated the proceeds from the gala to Henninger High School in Syracuse and presented a $440 donation to Principal Robert DiFlorio during the event. The money will go toward the drama department and arts program at the high school, according to the release.

Published on November 4, 2013 at 12:11 am

Contact Brett: blsamuel@syr.edu | @Brett_Samuels27