Wake Forest Students Help Habitat for Humanity

Business students are exemplifying the Wake Forest University Pro Humanitate motto by applying skills they are learning in their “Dynamics in Organizations” class to support a local nonprofit agency.
On Sat., March 3, members of the class invested sweat equity into construction projects for Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County. They worked on a home site in the Smith Farm neighborhood of Winston-Salem and completed a “wall build” at the ReStore warehouse.
The students created an organization to serve Habitat for Humanity as part of an action learning project in their “Dynamics in Organizations” class. The students developed their mission statement, created a leadership structure, and designed roles for each of the 23 class members. They managed communication with their client and within their teams, and applied lessons from their class to inspire intrinsic motivation and goal attainment.
“The overarching motto of Pro Humanitate caused us to think about what it really means to be "for humanity" in our personal, academic and business endeavors,” said Skyller Jordan, a senior business major and external communication officer for the organization.
"It was extremely refreshing to branch outside of the Wake Forest campus and help out the greater community in such a powerful way," said John Kirkpatrick, a senior business major and chief financial officer for the organization.
One of the class goals is to raise more than $2,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County. Students have hosted bake sales, initiated “dorm storm” fundraising drives and negotiated with some local restaurants to donate a percent of a day’s proceeds to the cause.
“Partnering with Habitat for Humanity through this class has been one of the most rewarding parts of my Wake Forest academic experience,” said Jackie Swoyer, a senior business major and leader of the on-campus donations team. “With a class full of smart, talented and driven students, we have been able to accomplish amazing things. Within a matter of four weeks, we have raised more than $2,500 through a variety of ventures, and we have pushed ourselves through the process.”
The students also presented a donation check to Habitat for Humanity on their last day of class, which was Tuesday, March 6.

“This class has enthusiastically embraced this learning opportunity. I set the bar high for them, and they have raised it even higher,” said Professor Julie Wayne. “I have been impressed by their desire to lead, serve, and learn through this class project. They represent the best of Wake Forest’s ideals in action, and I’m glad to have been their partner in this project.”