SIUE alumnus devotes 10 months of service as Augustinian volunteer

EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumnus Hank Niemerg is dedicating 10 months of service, relating to community and spirituality. Augustinian Volunteers are recent college graduates who feel called to spend a year in service to others while living in an intentional community, and committing to personal and spiritual development.

“The Augustinian Volunteer experience centers on relationships with Augustinian friars, fellow volunteers, service site partners, program staff and God,” said Joanna Bowen, director of the Augustinian Volunteers. “Through service to others, young adults have the opportunity to utilize their skills for the common good, while learning alongside the communities they encounter.”

Niemerg completed a bachelor’s in computer science from the SIUE School of Engineering in 2018. During his 10-month tenure as an Augustinian Volunteer, he is living in Lawrence, Mass. Niemerg is serving as a substitute teacher at Saint Augustine School and assisting with after school activities.

“I have always seen service as an important part of my Catholic faith and am very happy I’ve been given a chance to serve at this stage in my life,” said Niemerg.

Between August 2018 and June 2019, 12 Augustinian Volunteers are serving with local community partners for 40-50 hours a week in Lawrence, Philadelphia, San Diego and Ventura, Calif. Aside from being placed in one of the four domestic communities, volunteers also have the opportunity to serve internationally in Chulucanas, Peru.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose to shape a changing world. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of more than 13,000.

Print Version