Inaugural Cardinal Service Pre-Orientation Experience connects frosh with community partners

Over the course of three days this fall, students were able to learn about all of the public service opportunities available to them during the inaugural Cardinal Service Pre-Orientation Experience. From September 11-13, a program of events that took place on campus allowed students to build community with their peers and interact with some of the Haas Center’s community partners. 

The schedule started off with interactive games where students could get to know one another and discover popular campus activities, like a hike at the Stanford Dish. They were also introduced to the essential elements of public service and how that informs the work at the Haas Center. In-person and virtual visits with community partners gave attendees an additional perspective on the service work they could engage in as a student. 

The participating partners represented different areas of public service work. They included the Big Wave Project Farm, Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto, East Palo Alto Stanford Academy, and Palo Alto Arts Center. Each partner works in issues that range from housing justice, support for adults with disabilities, and promoting community engagement in the arts. 

Cardinal Service Peer Advisor Sean Casey was one of the student liaisons for the Pre-Orientation Experience and wants to see it expand even further in the future.

“It was great to see the frosh interact with community partners, like the Palo Alto Arts Center, and think about what form their public service journeys will take at Stanford,” Sean said of the event. “I hope we continue to build this program and introduce more frosh to public service at Stanford as they’re beginning their college experiences.”