Calling all Eagles for an opportunity to serve the community! On Tues., Sept. 28, the 3rd annual CONCORDIA Serves event takes over campus for the day, allowing CUI to engage in multiple service opportunities. This event engages students, student groups, staff, faculty, donors, families and alumni to give back to their community; both locally and campus-wide. 

The event has been a success in past years, with over 1,000 participants annually; however, this year is even more significant following the hardship faced after COVID’s impact on the community. 

This ‘day-off’ from school is much deeper than a day of community service. Bill Hood, the Senior Director of External Relations, plays a major role in executing the event. Hood sees the event as a way to give back the abundance that has been received. He said, “I love to see how God is working through the students, faculty and staff at Concordia to reach out to our neighbors. We have been ‘the best kept secret’ in Irvine for too long, it is high time we be known as the shining city on a hill that knows and cares for our community.” 

Hard work and support came from every corner of the campus, including Provost Dr. Scott Ashmon, Dr. Mueller, ASCUI, abbey west, the web team and many more. Another individual crucial in making this campus-initiative a success is Amy Bramson, Executive Assistant for University Advancement. Though there are many highlights to the event, Bramson states “…my favorite part of CONCORDIA Serves is that students, faculty and staff work side by side as the hands and feet of God in our community. It’s a great day, and I am really looking forward to it.” 

Participants can choose from a large list of partners for this year’s service opportunities, including the OC Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way of Orange County, Mary’s Kitchen, Charity on Wheels, the Lutheran Braille Workers, the Red Cross and the Ronald McDonald House. Hood said, “A new partnership added to the list is Love Orange, a group of community leaders in the City of Orange committed to making their city a better place for all.” Through that partnership came two more additions; Hart Park cleanup and the Orange Park Acres creek cleanup. 

Hood also expressed his gratitude to Pacific Coachways, who have come back this year to offer free busses for the event. 

If you would like to give back to the community this upcoming Tues., Sept. 28 at the CONCORDIA Serves event, please register online at cui.edu/serves for both day-of and remote opportunities. Let’s make this year even bigger and better!  

Tags: community, service project, event, Orange County

---

About Adyson Casteel

Adyson Casteel is a senior undergraduate student at Concordia University Irvine, studying Mass Communications. Adyson works as the Campus Editor for the university’s student-led newspaper, the Concordia Courier. Adyson is from Minden, NV, about 20 minutes from South Lake Tahoe, where she has the unique pleasure of both living on a ranch and spending time on the lake. 

In Adyson’s current role as Campus Editor, she writes her own articles for each edition, and oversees other campus articles from her peers. Adyson investigates the latest happenings on campus and student life, and turns them into newsworthy articles for Concordia community to enjoy. She conducts interviews from various campus sources, strengthening her articles with credibility and connecting her to many diverse individuals in the community. 

Adyson believes that everyone should step out of their comfort zone, and go the extra mile to grow in whatever you love to do. She strives to gain experience from many different fields within communications and marketing, including her work experience at Weidinger Public Relations, the firm that puts on the largest media-covered event in Tahoe; the American Century Championship Celebrity Golf Tournament.   

More articles by Adyson Casteel