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“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” is an observation attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. Since we are well into the season of giving, it seemed an appropriate time to highlight the many ways our students at Ringling College of Art and Design are giving back.

As a former college and law student, and then well into my career in higher education, it has always struck me institutions tend to lose sight of the significance of service and volunteer work as one begins and then climbs the educational ladder. There is typically a heavy emphasis on volunteerism and its importance during a student’s high school years, particularly because college admissions representatives are looking for that as they review application forms. Once students are admitted to college, however, the incentive to continue service work is often diminished, as they move forward with their academic and professional pursuits. 

Ringling College is committed to developing the whole student. This includes providing learning opportunities to help students enhance their leadership skills, build new friendships and facilitate teamwork and collaboration. During New Student Orientation, before the freshman students even begin classes, they are encouraged to participate in a service project of their choosing. This past August, over 400 students participated in 10 different projects across our area. They volunteered their time to work with experts at InStride Equestrian Therapy; cleaning and revitalizing Selby Gardens Historic Spanish Point and Siesta Key beaches; working with the Early Learning Coalition, among others. Kickstarting their Ringling College career through volunteerism helps the students get familiar and acquainted with the local community. At the same time, these activities spark a sense of pride and instill a commitment to service that can be life changing and life-lasting. 

Commitment – the word is defined as an ‘agreement or pledge to do something in the future.’ Our students are the creative visionaries of that future. As educators, it is part of our charge to instill and encourage their shared responsibility to make a commitment to make the world a better place. 

A significant service project at Ringling College is our Youth Experiencing Arts (YEA) Program. Following the ease of COVID restrictions (hooray!), we were able to get students back in classrooms around Sarasota County. The YEA Program connects Ringling students with local teachers and their elementary-aged classes. This year alone, the College saw 35 students participate in the initiative. The benefits of this program are immeasurable: young children are exposed to the creative joys of art and design, exploring new skills and enhancing their social and educational development; the teachers get to experience further enrichment for their students; Ringling students can share their knowledge and passion for the arts with others, and benefit from the mental, emotional and physical positives of giving back. We had countless teachers confirm how much they love this program and how meaningful it is to their young students. 

Sometimes, giving back can be as simple as holding a drive and collecting items for people in need. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, our College community came together to provide donated food, water, toiletries, clothing and other necessities to those who lost everything in the storm. Just recently, the team who worked on Code Red, a short film written and produced by Ringling College alumna Jada Wing Hang Poon (’20), was honored and selected by the Always brand as a Period Hero, distributing much-needed sanitary products to local schools and organizations in an effort to end the rife issue of “period poverty.” No matter how big or small the effort, it is the effort itself that holds such significance and worth. 

Part of Ringling College’s institutional mission is to “prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers and ethical practitioners.” We strive to support and foster the aesthetic, intellectual, professional, personal, and social development of our students. Service learning and volunteerism are indelible assets of our cause, as we continue to nurture tomorrow’s creative leaders. 

Dr. Larry Thompson is president of Ringling College of Art & Design.

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