Cordell Rubio
I’m a fourth year neuroscience major with a minor in military science. As someone deeply involved in Army ROTC and service leadership on campus, Buck-I-SERV has given me more firsthand experience with service than any other organization I’ve been involved in. My viewpoint of service has shifted from simply giving to a community to understanding it as something more balanced. You get as much as you put in. Service is a bidirectional relationship, and the community changes you just as much as you hope to contribute to it.
I originally joined Buck-I-SERV to collect some service hours and to go to the beach for the first time ever. I came home with ten new friends and an experience I still talk about. I kept coming back because I wanted to keep learning, to meet new people, and to build relationships that felt real. At some point, it stopped being just another organization I was part of and became something I genuinely cared about. It has easily been the highlight of my college experience, and I know it’s going to be hard to leave.
I hope to raise funds for Buck-I-SERV’s access fund so other students can experience the same magic I found on my first trip and so we can keep passing the torch. I also hope to establish something like this at whichever medical school I choose, because every campus deserves a space where service feels this meaningful.
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.
