This fall, more than 175 Boston Public Schools (BPS) Community Service Scholars completed over 3,500 hours of volunteer work in the local community both virtually and in-person. They served in a range of community-based settings, including healthcare centers, nonprofit organizations, and schools.

BPS Community Service Scholars receive full financial aid without loans and a full-time faculty or staff member to serve as a mentor throughout their undergraduate career. After their first academic semester, scholars must perform 25 hours of community service per semester, with one semester of service dedicated specifically to BPS. The program is operated by the BU Wheelock’s College Access & Student Success office and is open to any admitted BPS graduate.

Among this fall’s outstanding scholars is Albana Hysa (’22), a BU Health Sciences major. Hysa served as a COVID-19 support worker at Boston Medical Center, putting together face-mask bags for discharged patients, making face-shields for hospital staff, and assembling COVID-19 testing kits.

The role, which she will continue this semester, deepened her appreciation for healthcare workers. “I got to see how hard they work together and [it] made me even more certain that a career in healthcare is what I am meant to do,” she says.

BPS Community Service Scholars served many organizations this semester, including Planned Parenthood, Fenway Community Development Corporation, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, and more. Keep reading below to meet several BPS Community Service Scholars

Kathy Mei

Major: Anthropology
Volunteer Placement: Zooniverse

At Zooniverse, a virtual platform where individuals can contribute to research projects, Kathy Mei worked on several different data input and transcription projects. Mei enjoyed the opportunity to learn from each project, especially “Boston Phoenix, 1974!”

“I realized that even though I’ve lived in Boston my entire life, I don’t know anything about its cultural and recent history,” Mei says. “Working on this project has made me want to learn more.”

Katie Yao

Major: Health Science
Volunteer Placement: Big Sister Association of Greater Boston

As a volunteer for the fifth semester, Yao has enjoyed creating an environment where her “little sister” has been able to share her thoughts and feelings.

Yvan Martinez

Major: Economics
Volunteer Placement: Lifeboat Boston

As a volunteer at Lifeboat Boston, a community food pantry, Martinez packaged bags of food for individuals who are elderly or homeless, and interacted with members of the Lifeboat community. He will be returning to Lifeboat this spring semester.