Donor provides opportunity for first Bell Tower Scholars mission trip
Belmont University's Bell Tower Scholars recently embarked on a transformative four-day mission trip to Memphis, Tenn., combining community service with cultural experiences. The trip, made possible by a generous donation from donors passionate about missions and underrepresented students, provided a unique opportunity for these incoming freshmen to bond while serving others.
The generous donation, earmarked for students who might not otherwise have such an opportunity, allowed the group of 50 Bell Tower Scholars to engage with various nonprofits across Memphis. Working with the organization Serve 901, the scholars immersed themselves in a packed itinerary of service activities and cultural experiences.
Carshonda Martin, assistant provost of student success and flourishing at Belmont, observed the profound impact of the trip on the students.
"I think this experience really opened the students' eyes to the world beyond their usual surroundings. Many of them have never left Nashville, let alone engaged in this kind of intensive community service. Watching them interact with the people they were helping, hearing their stories and seeing the students' perspectives shift was truly remarkable,” Martin said. “They came back with a new appreciation for their own blessings and a genuine desire to continue making a difference in their communities."
The scholars' itinerary was packed with service activities at several notable Memphis organizations. They sorted clothes and played with children at the Refugee Empowerment program, packed over 400 food boxes at Mid-South Food Bank and assisted Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. The students also contributed to community garden projects with Carpenter Art Garden, renovated a future clinic for Hope House Memphis and volunteered with The Works CDC. Finally, the group engaged in a powerful experience serving meals and worshipping with those experiencing homelessness at Jacob's Well.
"The students were deeply moved by their experiences," Martin continued. "Many of them came to understand that community service isn't just about completing a task - it's about building relationships and truly engaging with the people you're helping. I saw them develop a real passion for service and a desire to continue this work back in Nashville. They're already asking about how they can get involved with similar organizations here. This trip wasn't just a one-time event for them - it's become a catalyst for ongoing community engagement."
Beyond service, the trip included visits to cultural sites like the Stax Museum, the Four Way restaurant and the National Civil Rights Museum, providing historical context to the students' experiences.
For the participants, the trip left a lasting impression. Grayson Hines, one of the scholars, noted, "Not only did we get to bond as a cohort, but we were able to do so while giving back to an extension of our own Nashville community. We can all bond over this for the next four years."
Fellow scholar Valentina Discua shared similar sentiments. "Going into the trip, I knew that we would be making an impact on various communities,” she said. “However, it was not until I was there that I realized how valuable this experience would be."
The mission trip served as a powerful conclusion to the scholars' Summer Academy program and set the tone for their upcoming college experience. By fostering a spirit of service and community engagement from the outset, Belmont aims to shape these students into thoughtful, impactful leaders.
Martin sees the trip as just the beginning. Plans are in place to continue the program for the next three years, with hopes of connecting students to similar nonprofit organizations in Nashville. This approach aims to extend the impact of their Memphis experience into ongoing local community engagement at Belmont.
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