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As a freshman, Eleanor Cok was new both to college, and the state.
The Kansas City native was looking for a way to connect with her new Lincoln home, and the Volunteer Ambassadors became the perfect way to discover — and give back to — the city.
Arriving on campus, Cok felt like she needed something to ground herself in her new Lincoln community. Leaning on her strengths and past experiences, volunteering around Lincoln became a routine that helped Cok find her footing.
“I volunteered a lot in high school and have been passionate about it for a long time, so I just signed up for a volunteering newsletter,” Cok, now a senior majoring in biochemistry and Spanish, said. “That’s where I first learned about the ambassadors program.”
The Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement's Volunteer Ambassadors program matches Husker students with local nonprofits and organizations in need of support, placing students in positions related to their interests. Cok, a pre-health student, spent a semester volunteering weekly in Bryan Health’s intensive care unit.
“People working in health care could always use more help, especially in the ICU,” she explained. “Beyond just getting the hands-on experience in a hospital, I really saw how blessed I am and learned not to take my own health for granted.”
Cok took that perspective to her second volunteer placement at Matt Talbot Kitchen, where she helped serve meals and connected with others.
“My time at Matt Talbot was very impactful,” she said. “I love talking with people and getting to know them. Being in a new city and feeling a little out of place, this was a great way to get to know community a little more and feel more connected.”
She also appreciated the regular ambassador meetings and learning about the work her fellow Huskers were up to.
“It’s just really cool to come together and listen to people talk about what their passionate about and the impacts volunteering has on them,” she said
For anyone curious about volunteering, Cok said that the Volunteer Ambassadors Program will do the hard part for you.
“Sometimes the hardest part with volunteering is just getting started," Cok said. "The ambassadors program does an amazing job of getting you set up with an opportunity that’s specific to you — they make it feel really easy.”
