Beyond the Numbers

For generations, community service at St. Mark’s has been integral to each boy’s education. The success of this program has been evident in the metrics; gifts counted, dollars raised, volunteer hours logged, measurable results of the positive impact Marksmen have on their communities.

Now, as the Community Service program continues to grow in scope and reach, students and faculty leaders are focusing on a less tangible but more impactful metric to judge success: What actually changes because of what we do? 

The numerical goals are still important and a tangible measure of success. Each senior class wants to collect as many gifts as possible. The juniors try to raise as many dollars as possible during McDonald’s Week. These benchmarks drive competition and can boost results, but students are increasingly shifting the emphasis from numbers to impact. Director of Community Service and Spanish instructor Jorge Correa wants students to think less about surpassing last year’s totals and more about how their efforts affect the people. “Instead of asking, ‘How many gifts did we collect?’ the question becomes, ‘Who received them — and how did that help?’” Correa said. 

“We hope students will develop a sense of civic responsibility as they learn the importance of contributing to their community in a meaningful way,” said Isabel Cisneros, Assistant Director of Community Service and Spanish instructor.

Community service at St. Mark’s happens on two fronts: Boys engage with the campus community to donate funds, clothes, or gifts. Then, boys engage with those who receive this support. Students serve meals, deliver donations, and give their time to those in need.

The goal is immersion rather than distance, relationship rather than transaction.

That emphasis on relationship is especially clear in the School’s long partnership with Austin Street Center, one of Dallas’s largest homeless shelters. “Our community has had a long-standing relationship with Austin Street Center,” said Sherry George, mathematics instructor, junior class sponsor, and faculty Advisor for McDonald’s Week. “Students don’t just raise money. They serve meals, meet the people they’ve been working to support, and see firsthand the difference their efforts make.”

As Cisneros summarized simply, “it’s not about the number; it’s about the impact.”

“If we focus on how we can come together and make life better for whomever, that’s going to be more of an impact versus logging hours,” said Michele Santosuosso, student council Advisor, freshman class sponsor, and history teacher.

That refocus is already influencing student behavior. “This shift allowed students, who have the innate desire to serve, the heart to serve, and the willingness to serve, to actually dive deeper into the projects and passions they really cared about,” said Dylan Bosita ’27, co-chair of the Community Service Board.

This shift is influencing younger students too. “A lot of younger Marksmen have asked me… How can I join the community service board? How can I make an impact?” Bosita said. “I think that’s really amazing — these kids aren’t asking, ‘How can I get a service award?’ They’re asking, ‘How can I make an impact?’”

For students themselves, the difference often becomes clear only when they engage directly with the people they serve.

At Genesis Women’s Shelter, volunteers  spend time with children, playing games, drawing, and building trust. “The interaction with the people you’re helping is one of the most important parts to making it feel meaningful,” said Whit Edwards ’26. “When you connect with someone, that’s when the service becomes more real and less of a number.”

Experiences like these also expand students’ awareness. “Opportunities that connect you to the people you’re helping are the same ones that also open your eyes to the way the world is,” Edwards said. 

Nathan Tan ’27 spent his 17th birthday serving at Austin Street, which reshaped how he understood celebration itself. “Spending my birthday giving back brought a far deeper sense of fulfillment than any gift could have,” Tan said. “It shifted my focus towards gratitude, and it reminded me how much I have to be thankful for.”

The refocus also changes how service is experienced. “Instead of hours, the shift allows students to become more engaged in the actual service,” said Bryce Jones-Quaidoo ’29. “Students will be able to clearly see how their effort and work are helping another person or community. Doing service looks good, making an impact feels good.” 

The evolution is subtle, but its implications are profound. When service prioritizes purpose, students don’t just complete a requirement. They begin to understand what it means to make a difference.