Service at UNC - Student Spotlights: Elizabeth Bartholf and Osvelia Valverde

Are you passionate about giving back to your community? At Carolina, there are countless ways to make an impact through volunteer work and make great friends and memories while you’re doing it. Two girls, Elizabeth Bartholf and Osvelia Valverde, came to UNC from different backgrounds, but with a similar interest in service.  

Elizabeth, now a rising junior from Pittsboro, NC, transferred to UNC as a sophomore from UNC Charlotte (pictured right). She’s a Journalism and Spanish double major and is involved with countless organizations on campus including the Daily Tar Heel, Students United for Immigrant Equality (SUIE), and Tau Sigma National Honor Society. She's also very involved with volunteer work and teaches computer skills for Spanish-speakers at the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Human Rights center. She hopes to study abroad in Spain during her time at UNC to enhance her Spanish language skills and merge her passions for Journalism and Spanish.

Osvelia, who is also a rising junior, concentrates her studies in Psychology, Latina/o Studies and Education (pictured below). Her family is originally from Mexico, but she spent most of her childhood growing up just outside of Winston-Salem, NC. Like Elizabeth, she is extremely involved in the UNC community. Some of her extracurriculars include Carolina Latina/o Collaborative, Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, and Carolina Hispanic Association. Not to mention she’s a mentor for Scholars Latino Initiative and Carolina Covenant as well as a Career Peer for University Career Services.

These girls may have varied interests on campus and in the classroom, but two things in particular brought them together: their love of the Spanish language and the first floor of Craige North; a place they like to call “La Casa.” This place, of course, is the Spanish Living-Learning Community and it’s where Elizabeth and Osvelia first met. “La Casa” residents focus their learning on fluency, culture and community. In other words, they work together to strengthen their speaking skills and friendships through the continued learning of the Spanish culture. Each member is required to attend three Latina/o sponsored events and complete 10+ hours of community service. When asked to describe her experience with her LLC, Elizabeth told us:

“As a transfer student I was worried about starting over at a new school. But with ‘La Casa,’ I was able to meet new friends with similar interests and who are dedicated to making a difference in a community.”

To her, being super involved and making a difference is what has made her experience so far at UNC so rewarding and so much fun.

The Spanish Living-Learning Community (“La Casa”) 2012-2013

In the same community service vein, Elizabeth and Osvelia worked together on a project called “Radio Latijam” in their Latino Media Studies course. Radio Latijam is a Spanish-language program produced by and catered to Latino youth. It provides a means for Latina and Latino teens to play their music, voice their opinions, learn about topics that concern them and inform other teens. It offers valuable service-learning opportunities to both Latino youth and UNC students taking APPLES service-learning courses. Each UNC student is paired with a local high school student as a mentor and is able to use what they are learning in the classroom to help out the local community. 

Through Elizabeth and Osvelia’s involvement in the APPLES course and in their residence hall alone, they were able to create a community of friendship at Carolina while helping out the local community through service. If you’re interested in getting involved with community service, social justice or service learning when you get to UNC, you too can get involved and make lasting friendships! Check out the links below to find out how:

Campus Y - http://campus-y.unc.edu/

APPLES Service Learning - http://ccps.unc.edu/apples-service-learning/

Living-Learning Communities - http://housing.unc.edu/residence-life/living-learning-communities

First-Year Housing FAQs

Have questions about housing options and requirements for first-year students? Read our Q&A with intern, Kelly Crupi. Have another question? Post a comment below.
UNC's Department of Housing and Residential Education


As a first-year student, what are my options for living on campus?
Beginning in fall 2013, most first-year students will be assigned to live in one of the designated First Year Experience (FYE) Communities: Connor, Craige, Ehringhaus, Hinton James, Manning East, and Manning West. Alternatively, first-year students can choose to apply to live in one of the Living-Learning Communities (LLCs), which are spread across campus and are not necessarily located in FYE Communities.

What is the First Year Experience (FYE)?
The FYE program is a new initiative that will help incoming students immerse themselves into the Carolina culture on a social and academic level. The goal is to leverage campus resources intended to foster first-year student success and acclimation by bringing those resources to communities where a high number of first-year students live. Our staff of dedicated Resident Advisors is trained to provide students with opportunities for leadership, community service, cultural awareness, and continuous self-discovery. Through partnerships with various campus offices and resources such as Academic Advising and the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, students will learn about Carolina through programs and events throughout the year. All FYE activities and programs are optional. 

What is a Living-Learning Community (LLC)?   
LLCs have a specific topic or area of focus, which gives members the chance to live with a small group of about 30 students who share similar interests or academic goals. There are seven LLCs available for first-year students, including Spanish House, Service & Leadership, Chinese House, Substance-Free, Sustainability, UNITAS, and Women Experiencing Learning & Leadership (WELL). First-year students are welcome, even encouraged, to apply for an LLC. Most LLCs have regular meetings, and many also have a required number of service hours or a class component. In general, members can expect to dedicate two to four hours per week to their LLC.

Can I participate in both the First Year Experience and a Living-Learning Community, or do I have to choose one?
Two of the LLCs are located within FYE communities (Service & Leadership and Spanish House), so those LLC residents will automatically be a part of both the FYE and their LLC. This could be considered the best of both worlds because residents can participate in programs for both the community at large and their LLC. Students are also welcome to apply for an LLC that is not located in an FYE community. But that’s not to say those students would miss out on the First Year Experience. In fact, LLCs typically house several first-year students, so residents would very likely meet other students who are new to Carolina and interested in getting connected to campus. Residents will also have the chance to meet sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the community who can be a great resource for getting to know the ins and outs of campus life.

How do I decide which is best for me?   
Only you can answer that question, based on what you’re looking to gain out of your housing experience. If you want to live in a community with a very large first-year student population and receive a general introduction to life at Carolina, then an FYE community is probably the way to go. You really have the freedom to take what you want from the FYE because you can attend as few or as many events as you would like! If you really want the chance to connect with a small, core group of students throughout the year, an LLC might be the right option for you. LLCs involve regular meetings and frequent programs which averages to about two to four hours of involvement per week.

Can I live on north campus?
First-year students can preference Connor and Alexander, which are both First Year Experience buildings located in the Connor Community. Also, some of the Living-Learning Communities are located on north campus, and first-year students are welcome to apply to those communities.

How do I apply?
For both the First Year Experience and a Living-Learning Community, you’ll need to submit a housing application at myhousing.unc.edu. Applying to a LLC requires a second application that is also available at myhousing.unc.edu. LLC applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and you'll receive your assignment as soon as you are accepted into the LLC. Spaces fill quickly, so apply early if you're interested in this option. If you're not applying to an LLC, your housing application must be completed by May 15 to be included in the first batch of housing assignment that go out in early June. Although you get to rank your building preferences, you'll receive your assignment through a random lottery system, so there is no advantage given to those who apply early.