“At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.”
Denzel Washington

 

Community Service at TAMS is asking students to contribute meaningfully to the world around them, including, but not limited to the UNT community, the Denton community, the country, and the environment. Students are encouraged to stretch themselves in this area and seek to make the world a better place while they are engaged in their academic pursuits. In addition to engaging in such service, students are encouraged to internally reflect on how giving to others is changing themselves.

What will your contribution be?

UNT Battle Flag

Community Service Requirements

The Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science does not have a yearly required amount of community service students need to complete. However, Community Service is ingrained in the Academy and all students are encouraged to participate in community service. For our purposes, the following guidelines need to be adhered to for your submission of hours to count and apply toward the TAMS Leadership Award, the Dean’s Leadership Award, and/or Gold Cord.

Community Service Recognition

The TAMS Leadership Program is a leadership course that empowers young leaders to grow in character, competence, service, and social and emotional maturity. We utilize Growing Leaders' Habitudes to discuss fundamental leadership skills necessary for all who are driven to lead.

TAMS Students at conference table

TAMS Leadership Honors

Requirements:
  • Two semesters of Habitudes Attendance with an 80% attendance rate of the full sessions
  • 50 hours of TAMS approved Community Service spread across all 4 semesters
  • If you are interested in participating in the Habitudes sessions and earning this Honors please complete the TAMS Leadership Program registration
TAMS Students Gardening

Dean's Leadership Honors

Requirements:
  • Three semester of Habitudes Attendance with a 75% attendance rate of the full sessions
  • 80 hours of TAMS approved Community Service spread across all 4 semesters
  • If you are interested in participating in the Habitudes sessions and earning this Honor please complete the TAMS Leadership Program registration
TAMS Students with horse

Gold Cord

The Gold Cord Award is reserved for graduating seniors who have exhibited the highest commitment to community service and citizenship during their two years with the TAMS program. Students interested in contending for this exclusive award will have the opportunity to fill out an application presenting their portfolio for why they think they have earned it.

Applications open March 2026

Requirements:
  • Gold Cord applicants must have a total of 100 service hours at the time of their application earn over their time at TAMS.
  • A project that expresses the culmination of their community service experience during their time at TAMS. The most important aspect of this project reflects how their service has been a part of improving the plight of others. 
  • The applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of TAMS staff and students. Up to 20 students may be selected for this award. Gold Cord recipients will receive a Gold Cord to wear at graduation and will be individually recognized during that same ceremony.

If you have any questions about this award, please contact the Assistant Director of Student Life.

Limitations & What Counts

 
Community Service Limitations
  • All hours must be completed during the TAMS school year. You cannot submit hours earned over the summer.
  • You are encouraged to perform community service during the school breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter Holidays, and Spring Break). However, you are limited in the number of hours you can earn during these breaks as follows:
    Fall Break — 8 hours
    Winter Break — 15 hours
    Spring Break — 8 hours
  • All submissions must be turned in within 30 days of the date the service was completed.
  • Submissions that are incomplete (i.e., no contact name or contact information, etc.) will be automatically denied without notification to the student — you will need to pay attention when submitting your requests and track your approvals and denials for community service.
  • You can only submit hours for time actually spent doing community service. Drive time to and from an event can not be included.
Examples of Hours That Will Count
Club led weekly/bi-weekly/monthly Community Service
  • Community Gardens
  • Tutoring at Independent School District
  • Homeless Shelters
  • Animal Shelter
  • Foodbanks
  • Elderly or Assisted Living Home
  • Libraries
  • Serving disabled families or communities
  • Musical performances at hospital
Club Programs in Service of a Community
  • Science Adventure Camp:
    A free, all-day science camp for elementary-school kids in Denton! We will help them explore STEM via hands-on experiments like Strawberry DNA, Color Changing Fire, and Elephant's Toothpaste! Free lunch and refreshments will be provided to all campers, as well as take-home science goody bags!
  • Math Fun Day Camp: 
    A day-camp where elementary school kids will be able to engage in many activities including hands-on demonstrations of math and physics concepts!
  • Tech for Seniors Day:
    Host a technology help day where students assist senior citizens with using smartphones, tablets, social media, email, or online services like banking or telehealth. Stations can be set up for different tech topics.
  • Community Art Day:
    A creative day for children and families from the community to paint, sculpt, and create take-home art. Could include collaborative mural work for a local school or park.
  • Health & Wellness Day:
    Host booths and workshops on topics like nutrition, mental health, exercise, and basic first aid. Offer free health screenings in collaboration with local clinics.
  • Musical performance for non-profit organization event
Religious
  • Food drive hosted by a church, but run by a food pantry that serves the general public.
  • Holiday Gift Wrapping or Distribution:
    Helping wrap or deliver gifts for underserved families through a holiday program run by a religious organization, provided the activity does not involve religious instruction or services.
Political
  • Voter Registration Drives

 

Examples of Hours That Will NOT Count
Club Activities

General club activities, including building web sites, decorating for a club event, etc.

Club Executives, Junior Coordinators, and Committee heads will be given up to 10 hours per semester for their service to the club/organization.
Fundraisers Fundraisers for TAMS clubs and other organizations (e.g. AID the Cause, Hope Auction, etc.)
Tutoring Tutoring of other TAMS students that is not officially sanctioned through the Academic Counselors.
Service that is paid Anything where you or your club/organization gets paid for the service
Family Service to your family, family organization, or family business
Non-Charitable Service Service that does not assist those in underserved or marginalized populations - for instance, volunteering at your high school annual band competition, singing for services at your local religious organization, etc. will not count
In-Direct Service Service that is separate from serving the community in need (i.e. folding paper cranes and mailing them to an organization, etc.)
Service to for-profit entities For instance, stocking at your Uncle’s grocery store. That will not count as community service even if you are doing it for free.
Political or Religious Activities Community service activities must maintain a nonpartisan and nonsectarian focus. Activities affiliated with or promoting specific political parties, religious teachings, or proselytizing efforts are not eligible for community service credit. However, students may still engage in service projects organized by political or religious groups as long as the activities themselves are secular and open to all. 
Internships Internships are a great opportunity for students, but they do not count as community service.
Independent or Unapproved Projects Individual projects that are not connected with some sort of service organization or agency unless prior approval has been received - for instance, "I spent 3 hours walking around campus with a friend picking up trash" is not allowed.

FAQ

Is there a minimum requirement for Community Service Hours?

TAMS has no minimum requirement for Community Service, only the requirements associated with being eligible for the Gold Cord award. We desire to create a culture of service among the TAMS students, a culture which strives to learn that the place of privilege is less a position of power and more a position of responsibility. The gates enteringinto Harvard Yard are inscribed "Enter to Grow in Wisdom" with the opposite side stating, "Depart to serve better thy country and thy kind." To be elite is not to be above people, but to be in a greater position to help those in need.

Are the Hour Requirements for Gold Cord per semester or per year?
Half of the required hours for a graduation award must be completed in the student's first year. For example, to qualify for the Gold Cord at graduation, a First Year TAMS Student must have completed 50 of the 100 hours by the end of their first year.
How many hours can I get over the breaks?
See "Community Service Limitations" above, and review examples of what counts before pursuing independent Community Service projects.
What Counts for Community Service?
The "What Counts" section above sheds a lot of light on TAMS standards for Community Service. Community Service is different from Volunteering. The culture of volunteering is seen as anything in which a person is giving up of their time. Community Service is much more humanitarian in nature. To serve the community in a practical way is to meet the needs of those who will be lacking something essential in their lives unless you or someone else meets that need.
Can I do Community Service outside of TAMS?
Yes, you are able to arrange your own independent service opportunities whether that is in Denton or at your hometown during a weekend. Just make certain that it will qualify for community service approval. Consult the "What Counts" section above, or contact the Assistant Director of Student Life if you have any questions.
What do I do if I have trouble signing up for Community Service opportunities through the clubs?
Most opportunities come through the tams.club or through word of mouth. Make sure that you join the specific TAMS Club facebook pages in order to hear of new opportunities. It is usually first come first serve, however if you find that there is favoritism being shown, contact the Assistant Director of Student Life. When an opportunity gets filled, we suggest that you present yourself as a 'backup' or ask the club to start a waiting list.

Go to the HOPE website for volunteer opportunities: www.tamshope.org

Contact the Assistant Director of Student Life if you would like assistance finding volunteer opportunities.

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