Many people outside of Saint Louis University often ask if SLU “takes
it easy” during the summer. While it’s true that the
workload may lighten a little, many offices and departments work
hard to ensure that the next academic year will be even better than
the last.
It’s not all about work, however. Each summer, faculty,
staff, students and alumni continue to live the Jesuit mission
and serve as “women and men for others.” Below are
a few examples of how members of the SLU community have served
at home and abroad.
Medicine for the Soul
For Tim
Randolph, summer is the ideal time for his an¬nual mission
trip to Haiti. On a 10-month contract with the University, Randolph,
an assistant professor of clinical laboratory science, is able
to travel to the beleaguered Caribbean island every June to answer
what he considers God’s calling.
His non-profit company, Randolph World Ministries Inc. provides
lab services, training, medical supplies and consultations to
physicians and technicians operating clinics that lack adequate
funding and/or resources. Randolph and his team provide testing
materials for HIV, malaria, sickle cell anemia, tuberculosis and
other infectious diseases, which together account for 90 percent
of illnesses in Haiti. For $1-2, patients receive a doctor’s
consultation, lab work and medications. New and “gently
outdated” laboratory supplies come from the growing network
of contacts Randolph has acquired from across the country. Financial
contributions are made by personal friends of the organization.
“Those of us who go on the mission are self-funded, and
there’s virtually no overhead, which is why we can offer
the services at such a low cost,” Randolph said. “It’s
actually a good thing to ask patients to pay, because then they’re
more likely to be accountable – to show up, to take their
meds. It also makes the clinics more credible.”
For the past five years, Randolph and a team of vol¬unteers,
including current and former clinical lab science students, have
spent a minimum of two weeks in Haiti. Due to the rapid growth
of his ministry, Randolph ex¬pects to begin making two trips
to Haiti every year and increasing his annual stay to a month.
Randolph, who said he is slowly but surely learning Creole, the
unofficial language of Haiti, finds that the mission trips help
him feel closer to God and his fellow man.
“The people of Haiti are the most grateful, beautiful,
lovely people,” he said. “There may be a language
barrier, but that message is received.”
For more information on Randolph World Ministries, Inc. visit
www.randolphworldministries.org.
Business as Usual
“Takin’
Care of Business” was the theme for the fourth annual Discover
Camp, an inner-city evening youth camp for local teens. Led by
SLU Service Leadership students, the free, week-long camp combined
fun activities and social interaction with practical business
education. Participants learned the basics of balancing a checkbook,
using credit and deciphering the stock market.Other activities
include field trips to A. G. Edwards and Build-A-Bear, a basketball
tournament and a St. Louis Cardinals game.
This year’s Discover Camp was underwritten by MarketSphere
Consulting, where SLU alumna and camp founder Mary Kate Morley
is a consultant and continues her commitment to serving others.
“For me, the service we do for others not only benefits
those we are serving and teaches us about ourselves, but it also
contributes to an integrated, understanding and cooperative St.
Louis community,” Morley said.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Many area teens attending the annual Summer Academy at the Smurfit-Stone
Center for Entrepreneurship receive hands-on experience in
taking a small business from concept to reality while competing
for a cash prize.
SLU faculty members and local entrepreneurs serve as mentors
while the student teams come up with a product or service, brainstorm
and research ideas and ultimately develop a business plan to present
in competition. The daily learning experience also includes time
for fun, recreation and relationship-building.
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