10/1/2026
Our first MRC Day of 2026 invited Episcopal students to reflect on their purpose and put their duty to care into action through service. The day offered meaningful opportunities for students to consider their individual strengths, connect with one another, and make a tangible difference both on campus and in the wider community.
Students began the morning in Pendleton Hall, where Sean Wetmore, director of the McCain-Ravenel Center, introduced the idea of “expanding efficacy.” He encouraged students to begin with purpose as they seek to understand and address problems in ever-broader communities. By recognizing that individual choices can have an impact beyond themselves, students were challenged to consider how their gifts and values can contribute to the common good.
Seniors Pearce Campbell and Sawyer Locke then welcomed the day’s keynote speaker, Howard Hoege, CEO of The Mariners’ Museum and Park. Hoege shared personal stories from his own life and career, describing the experiences that shaped his commitment to servant leadership. His remarks offered students a compelling example of how purpose can guide both professional paths and community engagement.
Partners from World Leadership School next introduced students to the process that guided the day’s Purpose Summit. In faculty-led breakout groups, students reflected on their natural gifts, interests, and values, then considered practical ways to use those strengths in service of others. Students concluded the morning by helping one another draft personal purpose statements — an important step toward developing a clearer sense of direction during their time at Episcopal and beyond.
The afternoon put those reflections into practice. Students selected from a range of service opportunities on and near campus. Across campus, students assembled toiletry and snack kits for local partner organizations. Others prepared quilt kits for Carpenter’s Shelter, while some spent time building connections with residents at Goodwin House, a nearby senior living community. The energy and care students brought to these projects demonstrated that service is not simply an activity, but an expression of shared responsibility and community.
Purpose and service truly shaped the day.
The next MRC Day, scheduled for November 4, will build on this foundation as students continue their work to expand efficacy. Together, the Episcopal community will consider how collective purpose can strengthen the School by increasing students’ capacity to engage thoughtfully and civilly with the important political and social issues of our time.
