Service

Ursuline students are not required to perform service hours to graduate. Yet, the Class of 2025 completed 20,632 service hours—a testament to UA's strong culture of service. 

Service plays an integral part of every Ursuline woman’s life. Students are well equipped to identify disparities in their communities and collaborate with their peers to find real-world solutions, especially here in Cincinnati. Our students volunteer in our community, participate in our seven student-led ongoing service projects, take advantage of our two summer service opportunities, and constantly find new ways to better the world around them.

Service becomes ingrained in our students for a lifetime. We continue to watch our graduates make an impact in their communities wherever they go! We are proud to partner with two alumnae and their organizations: Sheila Lichtenberg , Executive Director of Operation Give Back and Suzy DeYoung, Founder of LaSoupe.

Ursuline Servium

“You have a greater need to serve [the poor], than they have of your service.” – St Angela Merici   

Ursuline schools worldwide share the motto Serviam, meaning “I will serve."  At Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati, we empower girls to live this message. Students here take service projects from idea to inception, pairing with a faculty mentor for support on ways that they can make a tangible impact.

All service projects here include an educational component. Students research community needs and then come up with creative ways to teach their classmates about pressing issues—such as skits, speakers, or videos—and then test their knowledge with games inspired by "Jeopardy" or "The Price Is Right."

In recent years, the Ursuline community has learned about the impact of diaper affordability on families, the wide range of nutritional value in shelf-stable foods, and how access to books provides a welcome escape for pediatric patients. Our students' goal is to help their classmates better understand the needs of the community around them and equip them with tools to make a difference going forward.

Student service leaders are tasked with exploring their own service interests, finding community partnerships, and taking on leadership roles in organized service events. Student leaders who are interested in larger leadership roles can apply to be on the Community Service Leadership Board. Regardless, all students leave Ursuline having taken part in impactful service opportunities through collaboration with local organizations, service trips, and outreach projects.