Chaminade Julienne Students Serve the Dayton Community with Heart

COMMUNITY GEMS: Students make a difference throughout Dayton

Chaminade Julienne Students Lead the Way in Community Service, Growing in Faith and Compassion

CJ Students Serve the Dayton Community with Heart

At Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School (CJ), community service isn’t just an extracurricular activity—it’s a way of life. For senior Sadie Lekan, this focus on service has significantly affected her high school journey. It has helped her grow in her faith. It has also strengthened her commitment to those around her.

Sadie, a 17-year-old from Kettering, admits that before coming to CJ, she didn’t fully understand the importance of service. “I didn’t realize how meaningful it was to help others,” she reflects. Through her experiences at CJ, she has learned the deep impact of serving the community. Participating particularly on Make a Difference Day helped her realize this.

For over 30 years, CJ students, along with faculty, staff, and alumni, have participated in this day of service. Each year, hundreds of students join forces to volunteer at a variety of local organizations. They finish tasks like hosting parties for nursing home residents, face painting for kids, and sorting donated clothes. This year, approximately 300 students contributed their time and energy to more than 30 different community sites. The day’s activities are a testament to CJ’s long-standing dedication to supporting the Miami Valley area.

Sadie’s journey of service started early. She is now in her fourth year of participating in Make a Difference Day. She has volunteered with many organizations. These include Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House. This year, she will help host a fall party at a local retirement community. As a team leader, Sadie’s role extends beyond volunteering. She works to inspire other students to get involved. She spreads a passion for service throughout the CJ community.

“I feel more whole after volunteering,” Sadie shares. “You feel good about yourself when you give back.” This sentiment captures the essence of CJ’s service-oriented culture. Volunteering is not just about completing tasks—it’s about cultivating empathy, compassion, and a deeper connection to others.

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Jenna Legg is the interim director of ministry and service at CJ. She emphasizes that service is a core part of the school’s mission. “Service is part of the culture at CJ,” she says. The school’s partnerships with local organizations help students make a meaningful impact. This impact is not limited to Make a Difference Day. It extends year-round. Some organizations, like the Ronald McDonald House, have been long-time partners. Others are newly engaged in CJ’s service efforts.

For CJ students, service isn’t a one-time event. It’s a continuous practice that helps shape them into compassionate, responsible members of society. As juniors and seniors, students take on leadership roles, organizing projects, liaising with organizations, and encouraging their peers to join. By the time they graduate, these students have developed a strong sense of social responsibility. They actively seek ways to improve their communities.

CJ’s commitment to service aligns with its broader educational mission of shaping students who are well-rounded individuals. Legg explains, “Through service learning, we shape our students to become people of compassion and integrity.” CJ fosters this mindset in its students. It helps them see the importance of contributing to the well-being of others, both locally and globally.

Ultimately, CJ hopes that the Dayton community recognizes the dedication and enthusiasm of its students. “I hope the community sees that and comes to know and appreciate CJ students,” says Legg. Through their actions, Chaminade Julienne students are proving that service is more than just an obligation. It’s a privilege that enriches both the giver and the receiver. This creates a ripple effect of kindness and care across Dayton.

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