Ole Miss Students Give 2,600+ Hours to Oxford Community

Over 2,600 University of Mississippi students volunteer in Oxford each year, turning a college town into a community they genuinely care about. Through programs like Leap Frog tutoring and RebelTHON fundraising, these students are proving that giving back doesn't just help others—it helps them belong.

Grace Ribeiro, a junior from Massachusetts, started volunteering with Leap Frog because she felt homesick. The elementary school tutoring program pairs college students one-on-one with local children for an entire semester, building relationships that last far beyond homework help.

"Being able to give back to the community made it feel more like home and not just my college town," Ribeiro explained. She now returns each semester to watch her young students grow into stronger readers.

The university makes volunteering easy through GrovePulse, a platform launched in fall 2025 that connects students with local needs. Students can find everything from animal shelter shifts to supply drives with just a few clicks.

Many Ole Miss programs require volunteer hours, but students like Olivia Brotherton go beyond the minimum. "Each semester I try to spend a few hours somewhere new," said Brotherton, who volunteers through her sorority and the Leap Frog Program.

The Big Event stands out as the university's largest service project ever. This massive volunteer day mobilizes hundreds of students to tackle community projects across Oxford simultaneously.

Emma Grace Hale dedicates her time to RebelTHON, which raises money for Mississippi's only Children's Miracle Network Hospital through a 12-hour dance marathon. "I take pride in knowing that we are helping change kids' lives," Hale said after her fourth year with the organization.

The Ripple Effect

These volunteer hours create waves that extend far beyond checkboxes on scholarship requirements. Elementary students gain reading confidence. Homeless families find stability through Doors of Hope. Sick children receive medical care through RebelTHON fundraising.

But perhaps the deepest impact happens within the volunteers themselves. They arrive as homesick freshmen and leave as invested community members who genuinely love the town they once just attended school in.

Assistant Director of Community Engagement Kathryn Kidd sees this transformation reflected in the comments volunteers leave after each service opportunity. Students consistently mention learning new skills, meeting new people, and feeling connected to something bigger than themselves.

The numbers tell a powerful story: thousands of students choosing to spend their limited free time making Oxford better. These young adults are learning that community isn't just where you live—it's what you build together.