Sherman, Texas -- Before attending a single class, Austin College’s newest students participated in the annual First We Serve event, exemplifying one of the basic tenets of the College: service to others.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, 160 first-year and transfer students and 15 members of the Austin College Service Station board gathered in Sid Richardson Center to pack boxes of food for economically disadvantaged families in Honduras. In the span of just two hours, the 175 participants packed 43,314 meals.

Lana Abou-Khamis ’25, who participated in the event, said, "First We Serve is a great way for first-years to be introduced to the incredible service opportunities that Austin College has to offer, all while having fun and getting to know one another!"

The meals will be delivered to the Honduran recipients in collaboration with Send Hope in Allen, Texas, and Kids Against Hunger, which organizes similar food packaging events throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.