When Texas Law students compete to see who can gather the most canned food donations, the true winners are the university’s food pantry and the people it helps.
Of course, bragging rights still go to the top team. The Cadena Society collected 396 items over four weeks to win the Society Program’s first-ever food donation drive.
The winning Cadena team included more than 30 1L students at Texas Law and their leadership—2L Matthew Pollock and 3Ls Natalya Baptiste, Kendall Killian, and Tionna Ryan. “Their dedication and hard work really stood out, and they did a fantastic job contributing to the drive’s success,” says Texas Law’s Director of Student Affairs Christopher Sokol.
“The 1Ls did such an incredible job rallying and encouraging each other to contribute to the canned food drive,” Killian says, noting their use of group Venmo coordination and messaging in group chats. “The Cadena 1Ls have bonded so well, and it is exciting to see them encouraging each other inside and outside of the classroom. They were eager to help those in need and Cadena came together to decisively win the canned food competition.”
Other societies stepped up, too. Martinez came in second place with 194 items, followed by Green with 145 items. In total, 807 food items were donated to UT Outpost—the free on-campus food pantry and career closet for all currently enrolled UT Austin students—helping support fellow Longhorns facing food insecurity.
The societies’ success was more than just a win for law students, however: Sokol explains that it represents part of the effort to add volunteering and community work to the Society Program, with benefits across The University of Texas at Austin.
We recognize that food insecurity affects so many individuals and families at UT, and this drive gave our students a chance to make a real impact while fostering a spirit of service and solidarity.”Christopher Sokol, director of student affairs
“Our goal was to create a tangible way for students to support our local community directly,” Sokol says. “We recognize that food insecurity affects so many individuals and families at UT, and this drive gave our students a chance to make a real impact while fostering a spirit of service and solidarity.”
At Texas Law, the Society Program places incoming 1Ls into one of eight societies to establish camaraderie and connection among new students. Members of a society attend classes and social functions together, and they participate as a group in Austin outings and friendly athletic competitions. All the societies participated in the food drive.
“I’m thrilled with the level of student participation and the generosity shown,” Sokol says. “The amount of food collected surpassed our expectations, demonstrating the depth of commitment and compassion within our student body. It’s a powerful reminder of what our community can achieve when we come together.”
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