Leading with Service: UIW Students and Alumni Provide Community Service at 2026 Cardinals in the Community Event
Guided by its five core values of education, truth, faith, service and innovation, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) upholds it’s Mission of educating and nurturing concerned and enlightened citizens within the global community. Through UIW’s commitment to educational excellence in a context of faith in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, Cardinals often demonstrate that they are the Word in the world.
On Saturday, April 11, the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability (ECCLS) hosted the spring 2026 Cardinals in the Community event, inviting UIW alumni and students to serve their community through a variety of volunteer opportunities at multiple locations throughout the city of San Antonio. This year, the ECCLS partnered with Headwaters Sanctuary, Towne Twin Village, the Witte Museum, the Healy Murphy Center and the San Antonio Food Bank.
“This event is offered to our entire UIW community, past and present, to provide an opportunity to get off campus and engage with our awesome San Antonio community partners,” said ECCLS Assistant Director, Teofilo Reyes Jr. “There are so many great organizations serving various populations within our great city, and we believe it's important for our Cardinals to give back to those who so graciously and lovingly serve others.”
Despite the rainy weather they encountered, nearly 80 Cardinals showed up to represent their University and to give back to their beloved community. A total of 266 community service hours were generated through the combined efforts of volunteers.
Throughout the day, volunteers engaged in both indoor and outdoor activities. Activities included invasive plant removal, brush hauling, trail maintenance, landscaping, cleaning, interior decorating, sorting and organizing food donations, and fostering community engagement through events like a Fiesta-themed breakfast for residents at Towne Twin Village.
Reyes Jr. enthusiastically highlighted that Cardinals in the Community is a student-led event and wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of their Federal Work-Studies. Students led the entire logistics process for each organization and activity for the event.
“Our students engaged with local organizations in a manner aside from social media,” shared Rayes, Jr. “Yes, observing pictures is cool, but getting to know new people through a humane experience creates many transformative moments for our Cardinals. Many students stayed after to learn more about the organizations, new internship opportunities arose, new collaborations with faculty came to fruition and more. The outcomes from the event vary, but they're beautiful, nonetheless.”