The Daily O’Collegian

OSU students work as day camp counselors, volunteers for youth sports, referees and also serve in leadership positions at the YMCA.

Chris Gaeddert is the sports director at the YMCA as well as a full-time student at OSU studying leisure service management.

“I think being an OSU student helps tremendously with my job,” Gaeddert said. “Not that we couldn’t do it if I wasn’t a student at OSU, but I think it helps.”

OSU students account for about 80 percent or more of the staff at the YMCA, according to Gaeddert.

“They help out with coaching, volunteering and staff,” Gaeddert said. “OSU students are definitely the No. 1 contributor. If you can’t donate $10, donate your time, and OSU students do that.”

Dan Carman, the executive director of the YMCA, notices the efforts of OSU students.

“Students work and volunteer at the YMCA for many different reasons,” Carman said. “Some do it for spending cash, some for experience and some just to help out. We’re luckier than most YMCA’s that don’t have universities in the town.”

Along with students being involved, OSU faculty are also utilizing services and volunteering for the YMCA. They coach everything from youth soccer and T-ball to basketball and other youth sports.

“I probably have five or six OSU faculty coaching youth sports every year,” Gaeddert said.

Gaeddert’s leadership position requires him to constantly be looking for volunteers and coaches, which has been easier being an OSU student.

“Going into all my classes with people who are in recreation I can make announcements that I need coaches and other things,” Gaeddert said. “With 30,000 students here during the school year at OSU, there’s always someone who needs something to do.”

Although the YMCA benefits from having OSU students as employees, Gaeddert said he is also gaining experience from his job.

“In my major, when I hear things in class, I think ‘Wow, I know all this stuff, I just didn’t know the terms,’” Gaeddert said.

Sarah Alleman, a secondary education junior, is the assistant childcare director and the summer camp coordinator at the YMCA.

Alleman is in charge of about 60 kids a day during summer camp as well as making schedules, hiring the staff, scheduling field trips and making sure camp runs smoothly.

Alleman also said she benefits from working at the YMCA both in her classes and at work

“When you work in the same field that your major’s in, it can help you both in school and at your job,” Alleman said.

Classes at OSU can be instantly applied to her job, according to Alleman.

“There are definitely some of my classes that I take that I get ideas from,” Alleman said. “Or I will learn something and I will be like, ‘Oh that really applies there’ or it really opens your eyes to something,” Alleman said.

Working at the YMCA has helped Alleman decide future plans for her career.

“My ultimate goal is that I really want to own my own day care and that came after working here and working with kids,” Alleman said.

Alleman enjoys working at the YMCA, especially working with kids.

“My favorite thing about working here is the kids coming in and smiling and hugging you or they get so excited when they see you,” Alleman said. “They make your bad days better.”