Helping Every Way He Can
“I grew up in a part of Kansas that is known for volunteerism and service work, where people would help out at a local level and they’d also travel great distances to be of service to others,” says Billy Holdeman-Bass, an Admissions Counselor and joyful volunteer at Goshen College. “I was lucky to witness a lot of service work and volunteering, and I saw so many examples of servant-leadership in my early years. That instilled in me a desire for serving as a volunteer and for supporting other volunteers and nonprofit organizations. It’s been a privilege to pattern my life after the great lessons I’ve learned from others regarding service.
As an Admissions Counselor at Goshen College, I have plenty of work duties on my plate at any given time. I’m so happy to work with students to connect their interests with the many ways Goshen College can help them find their future. I think the best thing about Goshen College is that it’s not all just about earning a degree here, it’s also really about joining a community and becoming a lifelong learner.
For me, my experience at Goshen College has been so great that even when I’m off the clock I find myself wanting to stay involved and be a part of everything. In addition to my work duties, I volunteer wherever and whenever I can on campus, and at every event I can. I just want to be involved, it’s just a great community. I think I volunteer just as an extra act of love for our students, and to the patrons who visit our campus for events.
It’s hard to choose my favorite memory from all the events I’ve volunteered for, but a recent favorite was serving as an usher for our annual Earthtones concert at the Goshen College Music Center. This event was just really special, and important because it provided a voice for people from so many nations all in one space. I could sense and feel the meaning it held for students, to be involved in such a display of unity. I think the audience felt that, too.
I believe in what we do at Goshen College. When I’m volunteering my time in service of this great learning institution, there’s no place I’d rather be.”
Goshen College is a nationally-ranked college and Hispanic-Serving Institution located in Goshen, Indiana. The college’s 135-acre tree-filled campus is home to 950 students, including more than 40% that identify as students of color or from countries outside of the U.S. It offers over 65 undergraduate areas of study; as well as best-in-class graduate programs in nursing, business administration, environmental education and social work.
To nominate a volunteer like Billy for their dedicated work in Elkhart County, fill out this easy submission form. Let us know their story!
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
– Sir Winston Churchill
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