WGU’s Year of Service Across the West
Education, at its best, has always been about more than earning a degree. It creates opportunity, strengthens communities, and inspires people to invest in one another. At WGU, that belief extends beyond supporting students through graduation. We recognize that strong communities help students succeed and universities have a responsibility to invest in those communities in meaningful ways.
Over the past year, university staff, students, alumni, faculty and community partners across WGU’s West Region came together for a series of days of service throughout California and Arizona. Made possible through the support of local food banks, legislators and community organizations, these volunteer efforts weren't just one-off moments. They are part of the West Region's guiding philosophy: one student, one family, one community. It's the belief that when one person thrives, their success strengthens families, neighborhoods, and entire communities.
"What ultimately defines WGU is how we show up for our communities," said Rick Benbow, regional vice president for the West Region. "Graduation isn't the finish line for our mission. It comes to life when education creates stronger families, healthier neighborhoods, and greater opportunity for others."
Serving Meals, Serving Community in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles
Throughout December, WGU volunteers recognized that it can be especially challenging for families facing food insecurity and leaned in to help meet that need across Southern California in several ways:
In the City of Ontario, participants partnered with the Office of CA Assembly member Michelle Rodriguez to prepare Thanksgiving meals for residents. Volunteers worked side-by-side assembling meal packages.
In South Los Angeles, WGU volunteers played a key role in supporting “A Crenshaw Christmas,” an annual holiday resource event organized by CA Assemblymember Isaac Bryan in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. Volunteers helped wrap gifts, set up event spaces and prepare for a day that brought joy and essential resources to families in the community.
In North Hills, WGU volunteers supported the Valley Day of Service, hosted by CA Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, focused on meal preparation, working with local partners to prepare over half a million meatballs to ensure community members had access to a warm, nutritious meal.
Each effort looked different, but they shared a common purpose: to support the organizations and local leaders who know their communities best and to expand their abilities to serve.
Fighting Food Insecurity Together
In Phoenix, WGU volunteers partnered with St. Mary's Food Bank to package and organize food that would support more than 1,500 individuals and families across Arizona.
Guia Espadilla, WGU senior quality assurance coach and a volunteer at St. Mary's Food Bank, served as a meaningful reminder of why service matters. Espadilla noted that volunteering at the Food Bank alongside his peers was a reminder of the privilege to serve others and support people, especially during these challenging times of rising costs and intense desert heat. Working side-by-side allowed him to get to know his colleagues and partners as they shared a common purpose, helping 'one-by-one' ensure members of his community have access to nutritious food.
“The experience reminded my heart of service, much like the sense of purpose I felt during my military service and deepened my gratitude for the opportunities I have at WGU,” said Espadilla. “It also reminded me how powerful it is when people step away from their daily busyness and come together to care for others in need. And as an added bonus, it was awesome to get my steps in; it turned out to be a great workout, too."
In Northern California, volunteers worked alongside the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to package more than 21,000 pounds of food, helping provide meals for nearly 1,000 individuals and families throughout the Bay Area. The scale of operations at regional food banks highlights both the magnitude of food insecurity and the power of collective action. By giving just a few hours of their time, WGU volunteers contributed to a system that distributes millions of meals each year, demonstrating how even a single day of service can ripple outward to affect countless lives.
For Jennifer Pagano, program mentor in WGU’s School of Education, volunteering reflected exactly why she enjoys serving alongside fellow Night Owls. "Connecting with my community is something I am passionate about and I have found that acts of service are a fantastic way to get out there. So thankful for the chance to serve some of the people in our region by assembling food boxes for home delivery to individuals and families in need. Fast-paced, music-filled fun with other Night Owls was the best way to spend a day."
More than Volunteerism
The days of service reflect a broader belief that higher education has a responsibility beyond preparing graduates for careers. Universities are uniquely positioned to strengthen the communities they serve, not only by educating future leaders, but by investing in civic engagement, supporting local organizations, and creating opportunities for students, alumni, faculty and staff to serve alongside one another.
Our students don’t simply earn degrees; they become career professionals and entrepreneurs, volunteers, mentors and neighbors who strengthen the places they call home. Every act of service reinforces the idea that education’s greatest impact isn’t measured only by what happens during an academic journey, but by how that knowledge is used to create opportunity for others.
Looking Ahead
As WGU continues to grow across the West, so will its commitment to serving where its students, alumni and partners live and work. The relationships built through these days of service have created new connections among volunteers and reinforced the simple truth that education has its greatest impact when paired with service, and that's how WGU fulfills its promise to change lives, one by one.
