Students are helping out in the community by completing more than 31 service projects this week as part of Penn State's first Promise Week, which started Sunday.

"Penn State is involved because we already do a lot of service projects," said Anthony Williams, Penn State's Promise coordinator. "Who else can say they affect as many lives as a university?"

The week's festivities are an extension of the university's commitment to be a University of Promise -- a dedication made by Penn State in July to participate in more youth-focused programming and events.

However, the week's service activities benefit people of all ages, including students who complete the community service, Williams said.

"Service is rewarding because it's always a nice idea to help those who are less fortunate," said Ranti Ogunsola, program chair for the National Society of Black Engineers, one of the 10 participating student groups.

The group's members built a model house out of 300 Lego blocks. The project was displayed with other models built by student groups as part of a competition to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, Ogunsola said.

The National Association of Black Accountants reached out to the State College community by helping at House of Care, an elderly care facility.

Student groups will also work with children at a local daycare center and nonprofit youth organizations, Williams said.

Penn State's Promise Station offers students the opportunity to follow up with volunteer activities after the week is over, said Makini Young, Penn State Promise fellow.

The station is a Web site where students can search for service activities by type of service and time commitment they wish to make, Young said.

"There's always a need for service," she said. "But there's not always enough resources to fulfill that need."

The database tries to correct this shortage by listing more than 300 service opportunities ranging from outdoor work to literacy programs, she said.

Community service activities do more than fulfill an immediate need to help the public, Young said.

"It's one thing to be here for four or five years, go to class, and walk away with just a piece of paper," she said. "But knowing that you've changed people's lives -- that's more of a lasting impression than my degree."