A Very Rewarding Experience: First-Year Students Participate in Outreach DeSales

Twenty first-year students arrived on campus early to meet and serve the local community.

The students participated in Outreach DeSales—an annual pre-orientation program that allows incoming first years to come to campus days before their peers and volunteer around the Lehigh Valley.

“I thought, ‘This is so awesome, you get to move onto campus early, devote four days to service, and get to know the surrounding community.’ I felt like it would open up new opportunities and it definitely did. I feel like I have an even bigger family on campus.”  

 Gianna Torgersen ’26, nursing major from Long Island, New York (pictured below)

Students packed and distributed backpacks at the Salvation Army and Sixth Street Shelter, boxed pantry items for Feed the Children, and participated in beautification projects at local parks.

Mary Frances McNulty ’26, a business administration major from Doylestown, calls the program a very rewarding experience.

“I’m so thrilled that I decided to participate because I absolutely loved it,” says McNulty. “It allowed first years to meet fellow students and upperclassmen, who are very like-minded in serving others. For me personally, it really confirmed that DeSales is where I’m meant to be to pursue my studies.”