Graduation Requirement

In addition to the two annual all-school Service Days, Upper School students are expected to participate in independently organized service experiences during their four years at Overlake. Students are encouraged to volunteer in community in ways that suit their interests, as organizations benefit the most from return volunteerism and students develop lasting relationships through ongoing, committed service.

Students can engage in all kinds of volunteer opportunities, such as customer service, data management or graphic design to support non-profit operations; activities focused on environmental stewardship, social justice or food access; services like tutoring, visiting with the elderly or serving meals at a shelter. Students may also choose from several service-based Project Week offerings. Service Learning provides meaningful opportunities for students to practice responsibility, curiosity, and compassion for their world. These learning and personal outcomes are considered integral to an Overlake education.

Graduation Requirement Policy:

• 60 volunteer hours (minimum).
• Volunteer hours are spent serving a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Not sure if an organization is a nonprofit? You can create a free account and search by organization name and location on Guidestar.org to confirm.
• Annual benchmarks:15 hours completed by Freshmen year, 30-Sophomore, 45-Junior, 60-Senior
• Once a student has served 60 hours, the graduation requirement is met (regardless of the year of completion)
• Total hours for students who enroll after their freshmen year will be prorated according to enrollment date
• Service hours must be submitted online by students (grades 9-11) by the end of the semester in which the service activity was completed.  (Approval for hours is managed by, and at the discretion of, the Experiential Education Department.)
• Service hours accumulated over summer months are applied to the next academic year
• To report or review service hours visit the Service Learning page via the Overlake website

Defining Eligible Service:

• Service hours will not be granted for paid internships, employment or philanthropy. 
• A verifiable contact from the organization (not the student’s parent) must be provided with submissions. If no contact person is available, students must have their service activity preapproved by EE before conducting the service.
• Students may earn up to 15 hours for each of the following:
  • Participating in a service-based Project Week
  • Serving as a year-long peer tutor
  • Coaching OR serving as an official for a full season of Overlake athletics 
  • Serving as an Overlake Summer Program intern
  • Serving as a year-long Admissions Ambassador

Recommendations:

• Learn about the mission and labor gaps of local organizations to find volunteer opportunities aligned with your interests
• Serve as many of your hours as possible with the same nonprofit to promote consistent relationship and reliable support  
• Create a volunteer plan early considering school load and extracurricular commitments to maximize your time and establish contact with organizations before they fill up on volunteers
• Engage in service each school year, even if your requirement has been met!