Photo by Allison Hubbard
The silver anniversary of any event makes for a day of disproportionate celebration, warranting balloons, free drinks, boisterous behavior and, occasionally, In-N-Out. Pepperdine’s testament to its long-standing relationship with service last weekend was no exception.
On Saturday, more than 2,000 students, faculty, alumni and associates collaborated for the 25th anniversary of Step Forward Day, the University’s largest annual extension of community service and, this year, the largest in Pepperdine history. Not only were unsurpassed numbers of volunteers involved in the effort, but this anniversary witnessed the attainment of a world record, according to the Pepperdine Volunteer Center.
Through partnership with School On Wheels, an organization that supplies educational aid and tutoring to underprivileged children of Skid Row, Pepperdine set the Guinness World Record for longest line of consecutive backpacks in a row. More than 2,500 backpacks were donated by community members and set across Alumni Park in a curling “S” that covered half a mile.
This high number of backpacks represented an unprecedented outreach to school-age children in need of supplies and commemorated two benchmark dates for volunteerism: 20 years of service for the School On Wheels program and 25 years for Pepperdine.
“This is a big time in Pepperdine’s history,” said Assistant Director of the Volunteer Center Justin Schneider. “Step Forward Day is not only a giant among the Pepperdine community, but it reaches out to the local community in LA/Ventura.”
On Saturday, 68 cities throughout LA and Ventura County partnered with the program. Participants dedicated their mornings to service in nonprofit organizations including Boys and Girls Clubs, Salvation Army stations, Santa Monica Mountains Trail Council and Habitat for Humanity, among others.
“This is the biggest event that Pepperdine does,” said Special Events Coordinator and junior Brooke Hawley. “Step Forward Day requires all faculty working together to make a good impression on new volunteers. We want this to be the kickoff — a lead-in to an entire year of service.”
This mentality of continuation has been the mainstay of Step Forward Day since its kickoff in 1988. According to Volunteer Center legend, two students invited then Vice President Andrew K. Benton to a spaghetti dinner, where they petitioned for a center at Seaver to promote service.
Step Forward Day was the first program completed by the fledgling Volunteer Center, so named to encourage continued service, not a fleeting instance of volunteerism.
“We’re remembering where we come from and looking for new ways to serve the community,” said Schneider. “On the 25th anniversary, what’s important is continuing the trend [of service], not focusing on the milestone.”
The celebration at Alumni Park was also the biggest ever and not because of its budget. Original Volunteer Chair Director Sara Jackson, now Vice Chancellor of the Seaver Board of Visitors, delivered the opening remarks at the balloon-packed celebration. Art Director and alumna of Pepperdine Lizabeth Waldvogel designed the signature “25” that appeared on T-shirts, webpages and posters in preparation for the event. Pepperdine students provided live music while returned volunteers enjoyed coffee, supplied by the Board.
Every year the network of volunteers expands and extends, continually adding alumni who serve across the country and asking more of the students and surrounding communities.
“More people are serving and serving time and time again afterward,” said junior Megan Foreman, another special events coordinator.
The Pepperdine community is growing and reuniting through service, and the initial step forward is continuing to do exactly what it was designed to 25 years ago, added Foreman.
“Service is a part of the Pepperdine DNA,” Schneider said. “President Benton talked at the first convo about belonging; we feel that this is one of the events where you can find a place — discovering self and community through service.”
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Follow Alex Free on Twitter: @alex_pepperdine
As published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
