Jia Kang Xie

Hi, my name is Jia, and I am a senior Neuroscience undergraduate student at OSU. I currently serve on the Buck-I-SERV Leadership Committee, where I help facilitate service trips and coordinate leader trainings. I joined the Buck-I-SERV Board because of the impact my Buck-I-SERV trip to Guatemala had on me. There, I worked with Constru Casa and other volunteers to build affordable, stable housing for a family in an under-resourced community. Each day, I worked directly with the family it was for. I mixed concrete and filled cinderblocks with the father, spent time talking and playing with the children, and even played a friendly soccer match between Buck-I-SERV and Constru Casa. The experience showed me just how meaningful and joyful service can be when it is rooted in partnership and shared effort.

I was only able to participate on that trip because of funding from the OSU STEP Fellowship, and I recognize that cost can prevent many students from accessing similar opportunities. The Buck-I-SERV Access Fund helps remove that barrier so more students can learn through service and bring that growth back to better our own community. 

About Buck-I-SERV

Buck-I-SERV is The Ohio State University’s Alternative Break Program, housed within the Office of Student Life’s Leadership and Community Engagement department. What began as a single student-led trip in 2003 has grown into a nationally recognized program that has facilitated more than 1,000 service experiences across 30 states and 14 countries in partnership with over 150 community organizations. Through immersive, community-centered service trips, Buck-I-SERV provides students with opportunities to learn, lead, reflect, and deepen their understanding of social justice issues- from environmental conservation to housing access, youth support, and more. 

Your gift directly opens the door for more students to experience these transformational trips. By supporting the Buck-I-SERV program, you help reduce financial barriers that may otherwise prevent students from participating. Donor contributions strengthen our Student Access Fund and help subsidize overall trip costs, making programs more affordable and accessible.  

Every donation, no matter the size, supports students’ ability to engage in meaningful service-learning, build lasting community partnerships, and carry a lifelong commitment to service back to campus and beyond.