Make a difference with Community Engaged Learning at Ringling College
Get ready to give back. Each year, Ringling College dedicates over 14,000 hours of service to the local community—an in-kind value of over $200,000. Join fellow students planting community gardens, teaching art to local kids, cleaning up the environment, and painting murals.
The Student Life Office and Community Engaged Learning staff provide community service opportunities for the growth and development of the entire Ringling College community. A great deal of your learning beyond the classroom can take place through volunteerism. Becoming a student volunteer will help you gain professional skills and experience; you will become more socially responsible, gain a sense of belonging, meet other volunteers with similar values and interests, learn leadership skills, embrace diversity, and gain perspective by seeing others with different or more severe challenges than your own. Your worldview will be expanded as you gain insight into the Sarasota community and beyond.
As a Ringling College volunteer, you can share your strengths—artistic or otherwise—and have meaningful community experiences.
Volunteer Programs
RVO, Federal Work Study Programs
Ringling College of Art and Design’s department of Student Volunteerism and Service-Learning has hired student Federal Work Study employees each year to expand our community outreach to even greater potential.
This student group, called RVO (Ringling Volunteerism), is working hard to implement new marketing strategies, increase campus club and organization involvement, and strengthen our existing partnerships with local non-profit organizations. A huge ‘thank you’ to our hard-working student employees who are a wonderful example of service at Ringling College and to the Sarasota community!
Student Ambassadors
This group is made up of volunteer students nominated by the heads of the academic departments and staff members of various student/academic support services.
The students are chosen because they excel in and out of the classroom and those who nominated them believe they will serve as great representatives of their fellow students and Ringling College.
John and Robin Sullivan YEA! Program
The John and Robin Sullivan YEA! (Youth Experiencing Art) Program at Ringling College of Art and Design provides art and arts-integration experiences to PreK–12 teachers and students.
YEA! pairs Ringling College students with classroom teachers and art teachers. These pairs co-develop, co-teach, and co-assess projects connected to the students’ curriculum. By engaging in long-term residencies, students gain multiple arts experiences that are personally meaningful and relevant.
The Lazarus Foundation Scholarship
The Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship offers students a unique opportunity to connect academic knowledge with real-world experience through hands-on, community-focused projects.
Participants collaborate closely with local community partners, faculty, and staff to develop practical skills, deepen their understanding, and make a meaningful impact beyond the classroom. This immersive scholarship-based program empowers students to become thoughtful leaders and engaged citizens while enhancing their academic and professional growth.
Volunteerism
News & Updates
Lazarus scholar leads mural-painting project at the Pines
Lazarus scholar leads mural-painting project at the Pines
Ringling Sullivan YEA partnership helps Wilkinson Elementary earn national STEM certification
Ringling Sullivan YEA partnership helps Wilkinson Elementary earn national STEM certification
Last Chance: Lazarus Scholars’ Gallery on Display Through Jan. 31
Last Chance: Lazarus Scholars’ Gallery on Display Through Jan. 31
Illustration senior shares illustrated children’s book made in collaboration with local non-profit
Illustration senior shares illustrated children’s book made in collaboration with local non-profit
Lazarus scholar named Young Leader by national hospice org
Lazarus scholar named Young Leader by national hospice org
Explore Campus Life
A Campus for Creatives
You’ll discover a place where you belong within a community of creators, storytellers, inventors, second guessers, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.
Take a Virtual TourPlan a Visit
Find yourself—and your community.
Join a community of active and involved students.
Access assistance on campus.
