Making an Impact: November Service Spotlight

Throughout the school year, Kent Denver highlights students who are doing exceptional service work in the community. This month, we are proud to feature Hallie ’26—who has spent the last two summers volunteering with Adam’s Camp—and Kendall ’27, who has served the past two summers with Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Both students chose their organizations for the opportunity to uplift and build meaningful connections with community members in need. 

Hallie spent one week during each of her last two summer breaks volunteering at Adam’s Camp—an organization that provides transformative camp experiences for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In her camps, she was placed with a group of adult women—getting to support and spend time with them through a host of fun activities like rafting, an alpine slide, concerts and more. 

“Seeing the joy on their faces really inspired me,” said Hallie, who graduates from Kent Denver this spring. “Adam’s Camp is so special because it gives people who might not normally have these opportunities the chance to be independent, do fun things and make friends. You really appreciate just getting to be their friend.”

Hallie says the experience helped shape her worldview in a really positive way, and it even inspired her to pursue a major and career that will help her better understand and help others. 

“I would recommend (Adam’s Camp) because it’s fun to actually work with the people you are helping,” Hallie said. “This is a really interactive way to volunteer and get to know a community. Lots of people in my group would even say, ‘Thank you for being my friend.’ You really appreciate that.”

Kendall has also enjoyed hands-on volunteering experience, taking shifts at Children’s Hospital Colorado for two days a week over the last couple of summers. She was first introduced to Children’s through her older sister, who had worked there in the past. In her experience, Kendall most enjoyed getting to visit and spend time with kids in their hospital rooms. 

“It’s really rewarding getting to have that human connection and have the kids view you as their friend,” said Kendall, who would also help transport items in the hospital and run craft stations. “It means a lot to them, and I’ve formed some close connections."

Kendall recalls one patient in particular who had a profound impact on her.

“This past summer, there was a kid who had a brain injury who was staying in the hospital for a while,” she said. “I got to spend a lot of time with him. Every time I saw him, it was really rewarding to get to be a part of his life. A lot of time when kids are in the hospital, they don’t get to see their friends a lot. So seeing someone young who can be their friend creates a moment of levity and someone to talk to during a difficult time.”

Thank you, Hallie and Kendall for making a positive difference in the community! Learn more about Kent Denver’s commitment to social responsibility and impact on here.