Pioneer Pitch-In

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Jeremy C. Thurston '00 Center for Career Readiness
Pioneer Pitch-In

Pioneer Pitch-In is a one-day community service project that first-year students will participate in during Orientation. Students will work in small groups to assist local nonprofit organizations.

The primary objective of Pioneer Pitch-In is to provide first-year students with an immersive experience that benefits local organizations, while facilitating a positive transition into college by helping students learn about Utica University, their peers, themselves, and how it all fits together. These service projects will not only help students become oriented to the larger urban community, but also introduce them to diverse experiences and individuals.

The second annual Pioneer Pitch-In will be on Thursday, August 25th, 2022.

Pioneer Pitch-In will be an amazing opportunity for first-year students at Utica University to be engaged in the community and create positive change for our nonprofit partners, while learning more about themselves, their peers, and the world around them. We want students to be prepared to have a productive and meaningful experience and have included information below on what to expect.

What will the volunteer experience look like?

On Wednesday, students will participate in an orientation and icebreaker activities with their Pioneer Pitch-In group, along with student mentors and faculty/staff mentors.
On Thursday, students will board a bus with their groups and head out into the community to their designated location. All supplies, water, and food will be provided.

Students will participate in a guided reflection with their groups to discuss the experience, what they learned, and what they will take away from it.

How can students prepare?

Some of the volunteer projects will involve tasks like cleaning and painting, so be sure to bring some old clothes and comfortable shoes. All students will receive a Pioneer Pitch-In t-shirt to wear on the day of the project.

Questions?

Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or particular needs concerning your Pioneer Pitch-In experience. Contact us at pioneerpitchin@utica.edu or via the emails listed below.

Pioneer Pitch-In is supported by generous faculty and staff volunteers who assist in our mission to provide a meaningful immersive experience for our first-year students.

Faculty/Staff mentors will assist in a variety of ways including:

Ride with the students on the bus to the site
Oversee and participate in the project
Ensure a comfortable and safe environment for the students
Be a liaison between Utica College and the site
Help students reflect on the significance of their participation
Provide feedback regarding your team's experience
Assist with loading and unloading supplies
Check in on sites and deliver supplies as needed

Interested in volunteering? Contact us at pioneerpitchin@utica.edu

Is your organization interested in hosting a group of students?

Email us at pioneerpitchin@utica.edu
Project examples could include: community clean-ups, organizing/sorting, mentoring/tutoring children, spending time with animals, etc.