Indiana State University students began the new academic year by putting the Sycamore spirit of service into action Monday as 1,100 students volunteered during the University’s annual Donaghy Day.
Sycamores spread across the Wabash Valley on Monday morning, August 17, volunteering both on-campus and at nearly 30 off-campus locations completing projects designed to support nonprofit organizations, community partners and neighborhoods.
While many students served organizations throughout Terre Haute and Vigo County, Donaghy Day extends well beyond the immediate community. Sycamores also volunteered at locations in several other Indiana counties, including Clay County, Sullivan County, Vermillion County, and Clark County, Illinois, demonstrating the reach of Indiana State’s commitment to service across the state.
Donaghy Day is a longstanding Indiana State tradition that provides students with an opportunity to give back while building connections with their classmates and the communities the University serves.
Indiana State describes the annual event as a day of service dedicated to helping beautify the campus and surrounding community and providing students with meaningful opportunities for experiential learning and public service.
Throughout the morning, students worked alongside community organizations on a variety of service projects, providing hundreds of hours of volunteer support while learning more about the organizations and communities making a difference throughout the region.
Organized through Indiana State’s Center for Community Engagement, Donaghy Day connects students with community partners and nonprofit organizations while reinforcing the University’s commitment to civic engagement, experiential learning and public service. The Center regularly partners with more than 30 Wabash Valley nonprofit organizations in support of the annual day of service.
Monday’s event came one day before the start of fall semester classes on Tuesday, August 18, making service to others one of the first shared experiences of the 2026–27 academic year.
Named in honor of longtime Indiana State professor Fred Donaghy, the annual tradition continues to provide generations of Sycamores with an opportunity to strengthen their communities while developing the connections, leadership skills and sense of purpose that are central to the Indiana State experience.
For this year’s 1,100 student volunteers, Donaghy Day provided a simple but meaningful way to start the year: Sycamores serving together and making an impact across Indiana.