2025-26 Annual Report
2025-26 Annual Report
The 2025-26 school year is certainly one to celebrate!
The Office of Service-Learning officially turned 20 years old this year, and the office surpassed some impressive milestones as well.
Over the last two decades, nearly 150,000 UGA students have enrolled in a service-learning course. With more than 550 service-learning courses now spanning every school and college across the university, about 40% of UGA students take at least one service-learning course before they graduate.
The Office of Service-Learning's programs that connect UGA students to the community continue to reach new heights.
We are proud to announce that Experience UGA has now welcomed more than 100,000 students from the Clarke County School District to UGA's campus. Last year, with the largest cohort of ambassadors to date, we coordinated 100 field trips with more than 9,000 students. A huge thank you to our dozens of partners across campus who help us lead these educational and engaging field trips from pre-K to 12th grade.
Dr. Julianne O'Connell, longtime graduate student with the Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, graduated with her doctorate in higher education and re-joined our office as the coordinator of Campus Kitchen. Under her leadership, Campus Kitchen has grown its network of partnerships throughout the community.
In March 2026, Campus Kitchen partnered with the UGA Student Food Pantry, donating about 50 pounds of food to the pantry each week. We look forward to growing this new partnership to benefit the well-being of our student population.
Coaching4Success is also expanding every year, connecting more UGA students with elementary school athletes in the Clarke County School District. This last year, Coaching4Success mentors connected with 550 students across eight elementary schools, nearly doubling its reach from the previous year. The program also expanded its Lead Success Coach program, providing UGA students with valuable leadership and communications skills as they coordinate mentorship sessions and provide guidance to both UGA and CCSD students.
There are many more highlights to share from the past year, and I hope you enjoy reading about our work across service-learning instruction and outreach from campus to communities throughout Georgia.
Shannon Brooks - Director of the Office of Service-Learning
Shannon Brooks - Director of the Office of Service-Learning
Service-Learning
by the numbers
~6,360~
students enrolled in service-learning courses
~157~
instructors taught 406 service-learning course sections in 2025-26
35
faculty have received Service-Learning Excellence awards since 2011
$22,400
supporting nine faculty who completed the
2025-26 Service-Learning Fellows program
189 UGA faculty members have participated in the Service-Learning Fellows program since it was launched in 2006.
Experience UGA
Experience UGA’s mission is to bring every Clarke County School District student from every grade to UGA's campus every year.
100
Trips hosted
in 2025-26
9,801
CCSD students across
13 different grades
44
Partner colleges and units across the university
54
Experience UGA Ambassadors in the largest cohort to date
3,743
total hours serving as ambassadors of UGA
400+
hours of service during 17 community events
“Experience UGA has become an integral part of my time at the University of Georgia. As an Athens native, exposure to the university was always an important factor in my decision to pursue a higher education, and as an Experience UGA ambassador, I strive to help make that a reality for children throughout the Clarke County School District. Experience UGA not only strives to serve the youth of Athens but also offers incredible opportunities for personal and professional development for ambassadors. I have learned so much about what it means to be a leader since joining the program.”
- Jordan Wyatt, fourth year, psychology
“Experience UGA has become an integral part of my time at the University of Georgia. As an Athens native, exposure to the university was always an important factor in my decision to pursue a higher education, and as an Experience UGA ambassador, I strive to help make that a reality for children throughout the Clarke County School District. Experience UGA not only strives to serve the youth of Athens but also offers incredible opportunities for personal and professional development for ambassadors. I have learned so much about what it means to be a leader since joining the program.”
- Jordan Wyatt, fourth year, psychology
Campus Kitchen
Campus Kitchen is a student-powered hunger relief program that spotlights sustainable solutions to hunger and food waste in Athens Clarke-County.
8,976
nutritious meals prepared for clients in the community
1,702
packed grocery bags delivered to homes around Athens
31,156
pounds of food recovered from partner organizations
766
volunteers served for more than 2,000 total hours
618
pounds of food donated to the UGA Student Food Pantry
7,346+
pounds of food donated to agencies fighting hunger
In November 2025, Campus Kitchen, in partnership with the Athens Community Council on Aging and the Office of Service-Learning, coordinated the 13th annual Turkeypalooza.
With nearly 300 volunteers, Campus Kitchen shift leaders, UGA students, and community volunteers collected more than 2,000 canned goods, harvested 400 pounds of collard greens, cooked 133 Thanksgiving meals, and packed and delivered 276 grocery bags for families in Athens-Clarke County to enjoy.
“What I love most about Turkeypalooza is the community it brings together. From volunteers, shift leaders, and interns, to family members and friends, everyone jumps in, and it’s truly the best time.”
- Olivia Kirkman, fourth year, biomedical physiology with a minor in nutritional sciences and horticulture
In November 2025, Campus Kitchen, in partnership with the Athens Community Council on Aging and the Office of Service-Learning, coordinated the 13th annual Turkeypalooza.
With nearly 300 volunteers, Campus Kitchen shift leaders, UGA students, and community volunteers collected more than 2,000 canned goods, harvested 400 pounds of collard greens, cooked 133 Thanksgiving meals, and packed and delivered 276 grocery bags for families in Athens-Clarke County to enjoy.
“What I love most about Turkeypalooza is the community it brings together. From volunteers, shift leaders, and interns, to family members and friends, everyone jumps in, and it’s truly the best time.”
- Olivia Kirkman, fourth year, biomedical physiology with a minor in nutritional sciences and horticulture
This semester, with the help of two health promotion student interns, Campus Kitchen conducted a pilot survey, asking senior clients to rate their meals, the contents of their grocery bags, and their interactions with student delivery drivers. The result were overwhelmingly positive.
One client responded to the question, “What does Campus Kitchen mean to you?” by saying: “I am disabled, vulnerable, poor, homeless and food insecure. Campus Kitchen means a whole lot to me. They are there for me. They have never failed me.”
This pilot survey is the first step in a longer data collection plan to assess and improve Campus Kitchen’s service.
Coaching4Success
Coaching4Success supports the social-emotional learning of Clarke County student athletes by connecting their skills on the field to their skills in the classroom.
550
CCSD students mentored on social-emotional learning topics
59
UGA student volunteers trained as mentors who helped coordinate 122 sessions
564
hours working with student athletes in eight CCSD elementary schools
Coaching
4Success
Coaching4Success supports the social-emotional learning of Clarke County student athletes by connecting their skills on the field to their skills in the classroom.
550
CCSD students mentored on social-emotional learning topics
59
UGA student volunteers trained as mentors who helped coordinate 122 sessions
564
hours working with student athletes in eight CCSD elementary schools
19 UGA students became
Lead Success Coaches
Coaching4Success' lead success coaches serve more than 45 hours each semester and work with the same schools, building deeper connections with CCSD students and staff while also developing key professional skills.
“This program has helped me grow both personally and academically by strengthening my leadership, communication, and adaptability. I’ve learned how to lead a team effectively, communicate clearly and think on my feet when working with students. The experience has also taught me how to be more receptive to feedback and adjust my approach to meet different needs.”
- Eva Duignan, journalism major and Lead Success Coach on Coach4Success' marketing committee
“This program has helped me grow both personally and academically by strengthening my leadership, communication, and adaptability. I’ve learned how to lead a team effectively, communicate clearly and think on my feet when working with students. The experience has also taught me how to be more receptive to feedback and adjust my approach to meet different needs.”
- Eva Duignan, journalism major and Lead Success Coach on Coach4Success's marketing committee
Service-Learning
in the news
The Maker Mindset
UGA students and elementary learners build creativity, resilience and real-world skills
2026 Service-Learning Excellence Awards
Four University of Georgia faculty members were recognized with Service-Learning Excellence Awards
Thirteen years of turkeys, teamwork and togetherness
UGA and community volunteers donated food, cooked meals for local families
Forging lasting connections
For Josh Podvin, connection starts with listening and grows through trust, persistence, and presence
Support Service-Learning at the University of Georgia
Your support helps students become involved with their community, benefitting their education, gaining real-world connections and engaging with work that improves communities throughout Georgia and beyond.
Support Service-Learning at the University of Georgia
Your support helps students become involved with their community, benefitting their education, gaining real-world connections and engaging with work that improves communities throughout Georgia and beyond.
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