Social Responsibility & ImpactGet involved. Make a difference in your community and around the world. Kent Denver has long supported service as a bedrock of student emotional and academic growth.

Yes, Kent Denver’s Social Responsibility & Impact program is designed to equip students with the skills and experiences necessary to address social issues through service that is intentional, equitable and community-centered. To count toward their graduation requirement, students must serve with nonprofit organizations. 

Nonprofit organizations ensure that all resources, both financial and physical, are directly allocated back into their mission and work to create positive change. Volunteers play a vital role in the success and impact of nonprofit organizations, helping them operate effectively, stay connected to the communities they serve and foster a sense of collective responsibility and shared purpose. 

We want students to think critically about how they can activate their unique passions, interests and skills with a nonprofit organization in our community. That said, we are open to students exploring different pathways to make a difference! If a student has a new idea or organization, they need to receive approval from their Grade-Level SRI Coordinator or the Equity and Community Engagement Associate prior to engaging in the service. 

Engaging in reflection helps students make meaning of their service by connecting their actions to broader social issues, as well as their personal values. It builds empathy, deepens understanding and encourages growth by helping students consider different perspectives while recognizing their own impact. Practicing reflection allows one-time experiences to potentially transform into long-term commitment by helping students foster a commitment to service, even after their time at Kent Denver. While there are clear guidelines around approved organizations and tracking hours, the heart of the SRI Program is about students taking responsibility for a community and reflecting on their actions and impact. 

To meet Kent Denver’s graduation requirement, all acts of service must be inclusive and accessible to the broader public, not limited to members of a specific faith community. For example, students volunteering with their faith community to host a public-facing event, such as a food or clothing drive, would be eligible to receive credit. However, participating in activities that primarily service an internal faith community, such as helping run a religious service, would not be eligible to receive credit. This approach ensures that service aligns with our values of equity, empathy building and engaging in diverse experiences with a variety of communities.  

Requiring students to complete a minimum of 10 hours each year ensures that community engagement is not a one-time task but a sustained and meaningful part of their Kent Denver experience! This approach allows students to build long-term relationships with community members and organizations, explore a variety of social issues and connect their personal interests to purpose-driven action. Core to our SRI Program, consistent service over time helps deepen empathy, encourage reflection and provide a space to have diverse experiences. 

Yes, students can participate in service trips and immersive projects but with some limitations. A single experience, trip or hours with a primary organization can count for a maximum of 60 hours towards a student’s graduation requirement. For example, if a student completes 120 hours of service during a summer trip, 60 hours would be applied to their requirement. This guideline is in place to ensure that students engage in a range of service experiences, build connections with diverse communities and develop a nuanced understanding of social impact. 

All students must complete at least 80 total hours of service by spring break of their senior year. Failure to complete the SRI requirements will result in the student not receiving their Kent Denver diploma. 

By winter break of their senior year, students who have logged under 60 total hours of service will receive communication from their SRI Coordinator regarding their risk of not meeting the graduation requirements. Students—and their parents/guardians—who have under 65 total hours of service logged and approved by February 1 will receive an official notice from the Upper School Division Head that they are at serious risk of not fulfilling their service requirement necessary to receive a diploma. Following this notice, students are required to develop a service completion plan with their SRI Coordinator, under the supervision of their Dean and Division Head. 

Students who still fail to have at least 80 total hours logged and approved by spring break of their senior year will not receive their Kent Denver diploma.