By mid-November, the entire senior class comes together to present their projects to the college and the community alike. The Festival of Hope , a day-long festival held in the Campus Center Courtyard provides a unique opportunity for the senior class to present its work and take pride in its service. During the Festival of Hope , each group is responsible for setting up a booth to display and share the work they have completed that semester. Lunch is served while a band plays. Some groups set up carnival-like activities around their booths and students and community members play games and get to know each other while learning about innovative service.
Some groups invite underclass students to participate in their service projects.
Outstanding projects are recognized and group members are presented with gift certificates and prizes. All afternoon, students, faculty, staff and community members stroll the courtyard viewing project displays, sharing service experiences and developing a profound sense of pride in their commitment to service and volunteer work. Nicole Wax, Marine Biology senior, works with a choir group at a local church. She and her fellow group members have been working with the choir for the past three years and decided to continue their service for their Festival project. The Festival of Hope inspires all students to give a little time back to the community and the people.