����ֱ��

By volunteering outside of the classroom, Watson College students are learning lessons far beyond their curriculum — and leaving a lasting impact in their communities.

Through academic programs like the Watson College Scholars (WCSP) and mission-driven campus organizations like Girls Who Code (GWC) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), students spend their evenings and weekends volunteering at nearby nonprofits, animal shelters and elementary schools.

“I have always enjoyed doing volunteer work, but coming to college, it can sometimes be hard to dedicate time to volunteering,” says Katherine Peters ’25, who was part of the Watson College Scholars Program majoring in biomedical engineering. “So when the WCSP emphasized the importance of giving back to the community, I took this opportunity to find local organizations to work with.”

Founded to support students from historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities to pursue opportunities in engineering and computer science, the WCSP is built upon pillars like mentorship and community service. Throughout their time at ����ֱ��, scholars are encouraged to engage in outreach projects that have personal significance.

After moving downtown for her junior year, Peters wanted to incorporate the nearby Broome County Public Library into her work. Peters frequently visited the library to study, where she noted the installation of a grab-and-go “period pantry” distributing free feminine hygiene products on a no-questions-asked basis.

“The library was initiating a diaper drive, too, and was very grateful for any help,” she says. “I was happy to bring these drives to the ����ֱ�� campus with my Watson Scholars team members to support an organization that aids so many in the community. It was rewarding to encourage ����ֱ�� students and staff to support a meaningful cause that directly benefits the local area.”

For Gianni Zaccarelli, a first-year student studying computer science, getting involved with the local branch of Habitat for Humanity through ����ֱ��’s Center for Civic Engagement allowed him to test his abilities. In addition to helping provide housing for families in need, working at sites around Broome County and learning construction skills from more experienced volunteers have given Zaccarelli a literal hands-on challenge.

“Although there were a lot of smaller reasons why I started volunteering, such as a résumé-builder and it being fulfilling work, the main reason was just that it felt wrong for me not to,” Zaccarelli says. “I didn’t like the idea that anything I did at college had to directly benefit me, and I definitely felt a responsibility to just be doing something. I picked Habitat purely because it looked like the most difficult one.”

Building the future of STEM

Students like Laura Cunningham ’24, a graduate student studying electrical engineering through the 4+1 program, leverage their own proficiency in STEM to help others.

As a chapter of the national organization, ����ֱ��’s GWC club bridges the gender gap in technology and engineering fields by teaching basic programming skills to middle and high school girls from the ����ֱ�� area. As a lead instructor, Cunningham works behind the scenes alongside GWC’s leadership team to prepare lessons each week — covering everything from coding languages to web design and development.

“Coming off of my high school computer science experiences and remembering how male-dominated my classes and projects were, I was really inspired by the GWC mission,” says Cunningham, who first joined GWC as a sophomore. “I wanted to be a part of something bigger and have a direct impact on the ����ֱ�� community I was now a part of, and helping girls and nonbinary students be more confident and ambitious in STEM fields that I had come to love so much really seemed like a special way to do that.”

Building a thriving community of women in STEM from the ground up has accomplished exactly that. Last semester, the GWC team celebrated its largest graduating class with about 70 students.

“The very best thing about GWC is definitely the young students themselves,” Cunningham says. “They are so bright, so motivated to learn, and it is so special to work with them on a concept up until that moment when they finally ‘get it.’ Seeing them get to express their interests and creativity through code in their final projects is always so much fun.”

Similar to GWC, NSBE also looks to diversify industry and academia by empowering the next generation of Black engineers to excel — especially at predominantly white institutions like ����ֱ��. The organization even looks to spark conversations about STEM careers through early outreach efforts to elementary school students of color.

This year, NSBE partnered with the ����ֱ�� City School District to coordinate in-person physics demonstrations that stimulate excitement about engineering in the classroom.

“I genuinely love giving back to my community,” says Natalia Budhoo ’25, NSBE’s president and mechanical engineering major. “When working with children, it really makes my day to inspire them and reminds me of the people who shaped my journey. They are super-sweet and always want to know when we are coming back. Working with younger students is very fulfilling because they get to have fun and experience how engineers problem-solve.”

Helping those less fortunate

But NSBE’s purpose extends beyond increasing access to education. By helping provide free meals and serving the homeless with charitable organizations like Salvation Army, First Presbyterian Church and Trinity Memorial Church, Budhoo has participated in a mission that hits close to home.

“I grew up in poverty, so I know what it’s like to need donated clothes, hygiene and food,” she says. “That experience shaped my perspective and fuels my passion for giving back. I understand firsthand how much even the smallest acts of kindness can mean to someone who is struggling. Volunteering is more than just an activity for me — it’s a way to give others the kind of opportunities and inspiration that I once needed. Seeing their excitement and knowing that I played a small part in their journey makes every effort worthwhile.”

Bryan Perez ’25, a Watson College Scholars Program participant who majored in computer science, finds the same gratification seeing the impact he can have on others. Over the past four years, Perez cared for a variety of animals at the Broome County Humane Society and assisted immigrants in passing their citizenship exams through the American Civic Association (ACA) — experiences that have made him appreciate his own privilege.

While growing up, his mother would say: “There are other people who are going through harder things than you are, so it’s always a good thing to lend a hand” — so to him, volunteering is much more than just giving back.

“Volunteering with ACA, you kind of see different perspectives of immigrants. They all have unique stories, and some are a little sadder than others,” Perez says. “That makes you stronger and more appreciative of the things that you have, and it also encourages you to do more because it’ll help out. It’s easy to say, ‘I wish things could change.’ But it’s also really fitting and really nice to be the change that you want to see around the community.”

After graduation, Perez hopes to become a full-time software engineer. However, now that he’s logged so many hours behind the counters of soup kitchens and animal shelters since high school, there’s an important caveat to his ongoing job search.

“I would really like it if my future employer was more open to volunteering or having some philanthropic side of the company,” he says. “I’d like to be with a company that also adheres to my values.”

Similar to Perez, Peters intends to find the same alignment between her natural enthusiasm to give back while growing professionally. As a biomedical engineer, she wants to join the medical field to innovate new technologies that help patients heal.

“Volunteering has shown me the importance of empathy and understanding the needs of others, which I believe is essential for designing effective biomedical solutions,” she says. “I hope that whatever specific career path I go into after leaving ����ֱ��, I remain committed to my passion for helping those around me.”