USD Sanford School of Medicine Students Meet Vermillion by Volunteering
As part of 2026 Essentials Week, students participated in community outreach projects throughout Vermillion.
Groups of medical students served at Southeast South Dakota Activity Center (SESDAC), the Community Garden, St. Agnes School, the Body Donor Program Cemetery Plot and Vermillion Elementary School.
At the Vermillion United Way, students quickly removed all food stored in the walk-in cooler, dismantled and sterilized its shelves, and disinfected the walls and floors before reassembling and organizing the area. This walk-in cooler holds all cold food used for the Feeding Vermillion food pantry and Welcome Table.
The event was organized by April Lee, assistant director of the USD Office of Service Learning and Community Engagement (OSL) and Emma Buss, the volunteer coordinator of United Way. Lee was excited to recognize Kennedy Bietz, one of the medical students volunteering with Vermillion United Way, as a long-time USD Alternative Way Of Learning (AWOL) volunteer. During her time as an undergraduate student, Bietz volunteered with New Yotes Community Engagement, served as AWOL’s social media director, led a mental wellness alternative break trip and more.
“Our medical class is made up of students from a wide variety of backgrounds, colleges and states,” said Bietz. “Many students arrive at USD having only visited Vermillion once or twice, and some have never been here before. Getting involved in the community is one of the quickest and most rewarding ways to learn about your new home while meeting people along the way. Whether you're volunteering for a one-time event or committing to an organization long-term, you'll quickly discover how welcoming the Vermillion community is.”
“United Way works with USD students on a daily basis. We have several volunteer opportunities within the Community Connection Center,” Buss recounted. “We also work with large groups from USD that are in certain programs or that take a class that requires volunteer hours.”
USD students regularly complete volunteer hours with community partners as part of a course. Lee shared last spring semester alone saw 10,000 verified hours of student volunteering in Vermillion and surrounding communities. Campuswide events hosted by the OSL and AWOL have gathered over 400 volunteers.
Lee’s volunteering philosophy guides USD’s involvement with the community through these programs. She views volunteerism as a powerful action that can unite communities. “No one is ever truly doing anything by themselves. Even DIY projects are done by checking YouTube for help. We are all connected, we all depend on each other, and volunteering puts that into perspective.”
Students volunteering learn new skills, both physical and personal. They may learn how to paint a wall, construct furniture or new ways to clean. They also meet new people, gain leadership experience and grow their confidence.
There are several opportunities for community volunteering throughout the school year. Beyond service hours with community partners, the OSL also leads large-scale service events such as Feed the Funnel for 9/11 Day, an event that brings together volunteers to address food insecurity in local communities, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace - USD, a student-led initiative connected to a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that no child sleeps on the floor. The organization brings students together to build and deliver beds to children in need, advocate for youth well-being and foster a culture of community service.
The OSL posts their upcoming events on their Campus Groups page for those interested in joining volunteer opportunities. No matter their interests, each opportunity helps students build skills, confidence and real-world experience that prepares them for life after USD.
“I've always loved volunteering in the communities I'm part of because it's a meaningful, and often fun, way to contribute to something bigger than myself.” Bietz said. “Regardless of the task, the most important question to ask is, ‘How did my service impact the community this organization serves, as well as the staff and volunteers who make its work possible?’ There's something incredibly rewarding about knowing your time and effort made someone else's job a little easier and contributed to a greater purpose.”
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