Students in Service Spotlight: Origami, Voting Support and Making an Impact

April is National Volunteer Month, and students at Stony Brook are stepping up to make a difference, volunteering their time and skills to support causes that matter to them and their communities. Their efforts uplift communities and provide valuable hands-on experiences while giving back. 

The Center for Service Learning and Community Service and its staff have created a series of stories, highlighting the positive impact student volunteers have made through their service and celebrating their inspiring work to spark meaningful change in the Stony Brook community and beyond.

Spotlight 1 – Taha Ahmad Brings People Together and Inspires Through Origami

Origami Club is a student organization that aims to combine art and community involvement to make an impact. One of their largest projects was “Cranes for a Cause,” in which 1,000 cranes were folded to create a community installation in the Charles B. Wang Center.

Over the years this project has brought more than 10 organizations together, resulting in displays like the “Progress” PRIDE Flag and “Harmony’s Grasp.” Taha Ahmad, a junior and the president of Origami Club, shared that they regularly collaborate with many organizations to raise awareness on various causes. “We recently had a collaboration with the Kidney Crew where we were folding these tulips so that they could sell them to raise money for these dialysis kits,” Ahmad shared.

Ahmad initially joined Origami Club during his freshman year as an origami teacher, instructing other students how to fold cranes. Now serving as president, Ahmad expressed, “It’s nice to see the impact you can have on your community.” Ahmad also shared his appreciation that it is not difficult to find opportunities on campus to get involved, and says “it’s really nice that we have so many service clubs that are dedicated to helping other people.”

When asked about Origami Club’s future goals, Ahmad expressed he would like to continue to bring awareness about STEAM to high school students, demonstrating the intersectionality of art and science. By expanding their outreach, Origami Club hopes to continue to foster community engagement.

Spotlight 2 – Sophomore Zoe Haffner Empowers Asian Americans to Vote

Zoe Haffner, a sophomore philosophy major, is an advocate for voter participation and representation, particularly within Asian American communities. As a leader in the Asian Student Civic Engagement Task Force (ASCET), Haffner’s mission is to increase voter turnout and awareness among Asian students and community members. She explains, “We work with other campus organizations to spread civic engagement, help people understand what’s on their ballot, and guide them through the voting process.”

Recently, ASCET collaborated with the Center for Civic Justice on National Voter Registration Day to help people feel prepared to vote. Haffner emphasized the unique challenges Asian Americans face in New York, particularly outside New York City, where Asian Americans often feel disconnected from the voting process.

“People often think New York has high voter turnout, but upstate and Long Island communities — especially Asian Americans — often feel disconnected from the process,” she noted. “Many resources aren’t translated into Asian languages, leaving people without essential information on how and why to vote. ASCET works to provide translated resources so all Asians in New York can make informed voting decisions.”

Haffner has found that working with ASCET helped her grow. “I’ve talked with many people, often in Chinese, about voting rights. This experience has made me a better public speaker and a more empathetic listener. When we’re at events, we focus on listening to people’s unique stories, ensuring everyone feels heard.”

With ASCET, Haffner is creating a pathway to civic participation for Asian American communities, reinforcing that every voice deserves to be heard.

Spotlight 3 – Sophomore Ellica Sedigh Makes an Impact with MTO Shahmaghsoudi Global

Ellica Sedigh, a sophomore nursing major, is an advocate for kindness and environmental sustainability through MTO Shahmaghsoudi Global, an international nonprofit organization with centers across the globe. Its mission is to help those less fortunate while fostering environmental sustainability.

“What we try to do is plant a seed of hope in our community,” Sedigh explained. “Through donations, tree plantings, and beach cleanups, we want people to know there’s a community that cares about them and that we’re helping them grow.” MTO also runs a school of Islamic Sufism, where one of the key principles is the purification and ongoing education of oneself. Sedigh also launched the MTO Sufi Association on campus, an organization open to everyone regardless of religion or background.

The organization’s impact is tangible. For instance, the group recently made a 400-pound food donation to the Mary Brennan Inn, a local food bank on Long Island. “It’s so powerful to see organizations collaborate,” Sedigh said. “As a college student, it’s amazing to know there are places like this on Long Island.”

One of her most memorable experiences was leading a meditation session for neurodivergent individuals. “It was incredible to see how much it impacted them,” she shared. “It really lit them up.”

Sedigh advises other students to “Find that one place that brings you the most happiness and put your time, effort, and energy into it. That’s how you nourish your own seed and, in turn, nourish the community.” Through MTO Shahmaghsoudi Global, Sedigh is working to plant seeds of hope, spreading peace and love wherever she goes.

Want to Get More Involved?

Interested in learning more about how to get involved in community service? Visit the Center for Service Learning and Community Service in SAC 228, email CommunityService@stonybrook.edu or schedule an appointment on Handshake using the “Volunteer Positions and Service Projects” category.

Contributors: Service and Community Leader Team
Aima Chaudhry ’25
Merica Griffin ’25
Lily Kis-Horvath ’27
Angelica Zeideia ’26