Earlier this week, more than 70 Humboldt State University students showed up bright and early to volunteer on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. They were joined by many staff, faculty and community members.

It was just the sort of thing many have come to expect from HSU students. They gathered on campus early on their day off, then gave a few hours of work to make our community better. You may have seen them at Jefferson Community Center, the Manila Dunes, Freshwater Farms Reserve or HSU’s Oh SNAP! Food Pantry.

I am so proud of these and the many other students who give their time. Whenever Humboldt students take on projects like they did on Monday, it demonstrates anew how caring and committed they are.

This recent Day of Service is just one example. There are programs large and small across campus focused on engaging students in the community. For example, each semester 300-400 students in YES (Youth Educational Service) run programs focused on social issues and community challenges. Our student-athletes volunteer thousands of hours each year, and more than 700 students participate in classes that include a service-learning component.

We know that HSU students have long valued volunteerism and service. It’s part of the character of this university.

As it turns out, student interest in volunteerism is also a longer-term trend nationally. According to UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute, which regularly surveys incoming college students, 35 percent of college freshmen in 2018 said there was a “very good chance” that they would participate in volunteer or community service. That’s compared to 17% in 1990, the first time the question was asked (growing to 24% in 1998 and 28% in 2008).

For the communities around HSU, all of this energy and enthusiasm is invaluable, as the student efforts make our area a better place to live. For students, the experiences can be life-changing. Volunteering and service learning offer chances to get practical experience, improve resumes, and develop new talents. They can also lead to important new social and professional connections, and, as research shows, volunteering gives people a boost to happiness and health.

If you pay close attention in the coming months, you’ll probably see some college students doing work to benefit our community. I encourage you to take a few moments to thank and encourage them.

Tom Jackson is the president of Humboldt State University.