Change Day Returns to Andrews University

Community partners on service projects throughout the area

Students, faculty and staff served at several organizations in the area surrounding Andrews University. (Photo by Eben Espinosa)

On Thursday, Sept. 10, Andrews University brought back its annual Change Day, continuing its tradition of serving the surrounding community. The event brought together 730 students, faculty and staff, who volunteered at 48 sites throughout the area.

The first Change Day was held in 2017 and was a creation of Christon Arthur, former University provost. The event continued annually through 2023. After it was temporarily discontinued, Angelisse Villamizar, Change Day project manager, says she noticed how much students and members of the Andrews community missed the opportunity to serve together. In response, the Campus Ministries team worked hard to make the event a reality again this year.

Change Day began at the Andrews University Flag Mall, where participants received T-shirts and snacks, met their project leaders and gathered for a short program before traveling to their service sites. Volunteers served from approximately 10 a.m.–2 p.m., with an after-party hosted by the Andrews University Student Association.

This year’s projects included landscaping, painting fire hydrants, cleaning, organizing, stocking shelves, assisting at libraries and spending time with residents at assisted living communities. Participants served with organizations such as Neighbor to Neighbor, United Way of Southwest Michigan, Backpacks for Berrien, Woodland Terrace, Eau Claire District Library, Fernwood Botanical Garden and Love Creek Nature Center.

Lissette Lozano, senior pre-physical therapy student, volunteered at Woodland Terrace, a senior living community. Her group sang hymns and worship songs with residents and spent time talking and playing games with them. “I think something that I really resonated with was, here at Andrews the motto is World Changers Made Here, and you can really see that through the activities that Andrews provides and giving back to the community,” Lozano says.

Liz Nyamweya, senior nursing student, also volunteered at Woodland Terrace, where she conversed with residents, sang worship songs and joined their exercise program. “Change Day is a fulfilling experience and a gentle reminder of God’s love all around us,” Nyamweya shares.

Another participant, Thelma Tinomudaishe Rateiwa, junior speech-language pathology and audiology student, prepared care packages for mothers and families who had experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of a baby during the first year of life. Rateiwa initially chose the project because her friends were participating, but the experience gave her a new perspective on supporting families experiencing loss. “I felt as though I made a more heartfelt impact here,” she notes. She describes Change Day as “life-changing, heartfelt, healing.

University Chaplain Jonathan Fetrick says the event provides an opportunity for the Andrews community to put faith into action and connect with organizations outside the University. “It serves as a reminder and a consistent day when students, faculty and staff can say, ‘We’re really about serving people and serving the world.’” Fetrick says. Several participating organizations followed up with messages thanking Andrews volunteers and expressing appreciation for the work completed.

For Villamizar, seeing Change Day return after its three-year hiatus was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. “It was very special to me to be able to be part of bringing something important back to this community, because it was important to them, and they loved this event,” she says. She hopes the event will continue annually and encourage students to make service a part of their lives throughout the school year.

Fetrick similarly hopes that Change Day will become part of a larger culture of service at Andrews, allowing students, clubs and departments to invest in relationships with community organizations throughout the year. His vision is for Change Day to become a “practical, tangible ministry that people are doing,” emphasizing that “it’s about people, interactions and what they accomplish.”