On Saturday, hundreds of UT students made their way to the UC ballroom inspired to serve

The University of Tennessee TeamVOLS sponsored the second annual Day of Service on campus. More than 400 students, faculty and staff gathered at 8 a.m. and visited agencies around the Knoxville community, such as the Love Kitchen and Ijams Nature Center.

"MLK Day of Service was an awesome picture of what UT students can do to give back to the Knoxville community," said Courtney Holder, a senior of TeamVOLS. "It was so inspiring to see students from so many different campus organizations coming together early on a Saturday to serve in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr." 

MLK Day of Service was an awesome picture of what UT students can do to give back to the Knoxville community.
 Courtney Holder, TeamVOLs

Gamma Sigma Sigma, a service sorority on campus, sent 37 girls to the event to work with Ijams. 

"My favorite part of the whole day was trenching through mud with all of my sisters. It brought the forty of us together in service," said Lacie Duffel, a senior in Gamma Sigma Sigma. 

The volunteers spent about three hours working at various Knoxville agencies.

In 1994, Congress encouraged Americans to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national day of public service. This inspired people all over the United States to volunteer within their communities, responding to Martin Luther King Jr.'s question: "What are you doing for others?"

Last year, UT celebrated its first Day of Service. This year, boxed lunches were provided to the volunteers, along with a special presentation by Avon Rollins Sr., a civil rights activist and personal friend of Martin Luther King Jr.

Rollins told stories of his travels with King. He jokingly referring to when the two of them used to arm wrestle. 

"The speaker was amazing. I really don't think they could have found a better speaker for the MLK Day of Service," said Lindsey Kennedy, a senior in Gamma Sigma Sigma. 

Other organizations that participated were the Minority Achievement Program, Freshman Council, Me4UT, Sailing Club, Residence Halls, Sororities, Fraternities, Alternative Fall Break and Spring Break Teams, Ski and Snowboard Club, and SOLD Leadership Guides.

TeamVOLS sponsors expected to have around 250 participants at the event, and they counted  Numbers are expected to rise again next year in hopes of a large turnout.