Service learning – a hallmark of the Abilene Christian University experience – is one of the many reasons U.S. News & World Report has again recognized ACU among the nation’s best in its 2026 rankings.
For the seventh consecutive year, ACU earned top marks in the “Programs That Enhance Student Experience” category, including ranking #11 in the nation in service learning.
But service learning at ACU is more than just a ranking – it’s a hands-on way for students to transform classroom knowledge into real-world impact.
Last year, 178 students, along with nearly 30 faculty, staff and alumni, participated in service learning projects across 20 countries, from Japan to Nicaragua. This year, students continue their outreach in places like Brazil, Peru and Denver, Colorado.
With majors ranging from finance to nursing, students apply their skills in meaningful ways, offering expertise, gaining cross-cultural experience and deepening their faith. For some, it’s their first time traveling abroad, stepping into new cultures and environments. Others serve locally, addressing challenges in their own communities.
For several years, students in ACU’s speech-language pathology program have traveled to Uganda to work with Hope Speaks, providing evaluations and speech therapy. They were joined this year by students from the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition who were working on producing a locally sourced food thickener.
“There’s a dire need for speech therapists in Uganda,” said Anna Kate Bradford, one of the students who went on this trip. “Hope Speaks did 90 evaluations in a year, and we surpassed that in a week and a half. Imagine the help they would have if they had more SLPs here. You see drastic changes just by being seen once – in one 30-minute time of reading a book to them, playing with a ball, hearing their laughter. It helps give kids their voice back and that’s what’s amazing.”
ACU students have made a difference in communities worldwide, including:
Rwanda – The Department of Engineering and Physics worked with ACU alumnus Serge Gasore to survey the campus of Rwanda Children in preparation for a future erosion control project. Communication sciences and disorders students also joined to offer speech pathology services to children in the community.
Brazil – Social Work students traveled to Itu, Brazil, to work with ACU alumni Mark and Ali Kaiser on their local initiatives to partner with those who are underserved in their community.
Uganda – Students from the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition partnered with Hope Speaks to continue their work on producing a locally sourced food thickener, while students in the speech-language pathology program continued to offer services to local families. Watch a video documentary by ACU journalism graduate Emily Shafer.
Poland – Lynay students and faculty have hosted sports and VBS-style activities for Ukrainian refugee children. Read about one of their trips.
Ghana – Students from the College of Business Administration worked alongside students at Heritage Christian College and Ateiku Christian Ministries to explore entrepreneurial startups that might benefit the students and their communities.
Nicaragua – Students from agricultural and environmental sciences developed vertical gardens for local communities.
Guatemala, Peru, and Denver, Colorado – Nursing and pre-health teams worked alongside healthcare providers to provide support and deliver care.
Throughout these experiences, students from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication served as embedded reporters, creating documentaries to show the impact.
“The bravery of these students reminds us all that we are called to live out God’s Kingdom in ever-diverse contexts,” said Dr. Zane McGee, director of the Halbert Center for Missions and Global Service. And the integration of faith, learning and service is what defines ACU’s approach to education.
Kati David, who along with her husband co-founded Uganda’s Hope Speaks, talks about the impact ACU students have made.
“We’ve really seen how providing services and building that relationship with families opens the door for a conversation about the Gospel,” she said. “And there’s really no better way to show the Gospel to them than through loving their kids, especially in a culture where everyone else has pushed them away.”
– Robin Saylor
Oct. 16, 2025
