At St. Ambrose University, students develop the skills they need to thrive in the workplace and lead lives of meaning. This begins their first week at SAU, before classes even start, when they take part in BeeComing Ambrosian. The beloved tradition sends students out to community sites across the Quad Cities. It’s their first taste of the life of an Ambrosian and what it truly means to live out one of the university's core values – Service.
At Trinity Lutheran Church in Moline, Illinois, Ashlyn Bane ‘29 worked with TerraCycle, a recycling group that focuses on repurposing clothing and textiles. Her task was simple but purposeful.
“I’m cutting pockets, seams, and belt loops off different jeans, shirts, and shorts that are 90% cotton or higher,” Bane said. “They’re recycling the fabric and turning it into items for others to use and reuse.”
For Bane, a native of Marshalltown, Iowa, the project was a continuation of something she already cares deeply about.
“One of the core values of St. Ambrose is service, so I was really drawn in by that. Other people might not have the things that I have, so I like to be able to give back and offer more to the community,” Bane said.
Bane, who is still deciding on a major, said she sees service playing a role in her life long after graduation.
“I know I want to continue going out and volunteering wherever I can,” she said. “I definitely want to be involved in the community.”
While Bane’s group worked indoors, another set of students spent their morning at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island, Illinois. There, Berett Callison ‘29, Keondre Chester ‘29, and Olha Slobodiniuk ‘29 joined classmates in clearing weeds and tidying garden beds.
Callison, a wrestler from Nevada, said the physical work came with the added benefit of making connections with his new classmates.
“It shows that the school cares about more than just class. They care about community culture and friendship-building,” Callison said. “It’s like I’ve already known everyone here for a year, even though I’ve been here for two days.”
For Chester, a football player who transferred from St. Louis Community College, the project was about both service and growth.
“I just really like giving back to the community. That’s what being a Bee is all about,” Chester said. “It means a lot, honestly, getting to network with the group and just get to know all the different people.”
Chester, who is majoring in criminal justice, added that service work connects to his larger academic and career goals.
“Becoming a lawyer is ultimately the main goal,” he said. “I feel like doing community service will give me a different perspective that I can bring to law school.”
Slobodiniuk, who came to Ambrose from Ukraine, said the day helped her settle into her new community while also giving her a memorable first impression. Being thousands of miles away from home, she admitted that the experience of starting college in a new country was intimidating. But working alongside classmates in the gardens made her feel more connected and even brought some unexpected humor.
“I pulled the weeds and fell on my butt because it was very hard, but it was an amazing experience. I loved it,” she said, laughing. “Sometimes service can be hard, but just being here at the Botanical Center, seeing the beautiful views, beautiful fish, beautiful everything – that's so fun.”
For Slobodiniuk, the day was more than just physical labor; it was also about the people surrounding her. She said the kindness of both staff and fellow students has helped her feel at home more quickly than she expected.
“I’m just so glad that I have people like this around me now,” Slobodiniuk said. “Service is about helping people, and forensic psychology – my major – is also about helping people. It’s very helpful for me in the future.”
Meanwhile, another group of Ambrosians spent the day at Hope at the BRICK House in Davenport, Iowa, a nonprofit that provides spiritual, educational, and community support. Among them was Broderick Schmidt ‘29, who helped with outdoor cleanup and prepared mailings to promote a neighborhood block party.
Schmidt admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect from the day, but said he found the experience valuable as he starts his college career.
“I was looking for stuff that would introduce me to the community. I wanted to be involved a lot more,” he said. “I think this is a great event, because a university should be a staple in the community.”
As the day wrapped up, students returned to campus tired but energized, carrying more than just memories of hard work. They left with a stronger sense of belonging, an early glimpse of the friendships that will carry them through college, and the knowledge that their Ambrosian journey began with something bigger than themselves. For the Class of 2029, BeeComing Ambrosian wasn’t just about service – it was about planting the first roots of community in their new home.
