Community Outreach

Comets HELP

Comets HELP is a collaborative program between the Honors College and UT Southwestern Geriatrics Division. UTD pre-med students engage in weekly volunteer activities at UT Southwestern’s Clements Hospital. 

The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is a national American Geriatric Society (AGS) and UT Southwestern Medical School initiative aimed at preventing delirium and functional decline in hospitalized older adults. In a unique collaboration, the University of Texas at Dallas’s (UTD) Comets HELP program partners with the UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) Internal Medicine, Geriatric Division Faculty, to exclusively recruit student volunteers from the UTD Hobson Wildenthal Honors College. Selected students work directly with geriatric patients at UTSW’s Clements University Hospital, implementing evidence-based protocols under the guidance of the UTSW Geriatric Division HELP Program Manager and Medical Director.

Our Goals

• Improve geriatric patient care. 
• Educate future health professionals about geriatrics.
• Prepare pre-health students for future professions.

For more information, email cometshelp@gmail.com.

What To Expect

• Volunteering at least three hours per week at Clements University Hospital (UT Southwestern)
• Monthly workshops to receive education and training in engaging and interacting with elderly patients.
• Monthly lectures by UTSW physicians, health care workers and other guests to discuss topics related to medicine.

Eligibility Requirements

• You are part of the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College.
• You have watched the informational session recording.
• You are an incoming freshman, sophomore or junior by year.

2025 Application Deadlines and Timeline

• Monday, Sept. 29 – Application open.
• Monday Nov. 10 – Application closes at 11:59 pm.
• Sunday, Nov. 16 – Applicants should expect interview invites by this date.
• Monday-Friday, Nov. 17-21 (tentative) – Interviews

Victor L. Worsfold Grant Program Fund

Victor L. Worsfold Grants support student-led service activities that benefit the UT Dallas, local and global communities. 

Students can apply individually or in groups. The grants are not limited to any one type of community work or discipline. The Worsfold grants range from $250 to $1,000 per project, depending on the proposed budget and needs of the project.

Previous Recipients

• Circle K International — Funds essential supplies for the homeless population
• Crissa’s Community Outreach — Funds gift bags for kids in a domestic violence shelter
• Global Medical and Dental Brigades — Funds hygiene supplies for impoverished communities in Panama
• Memories Matter  — Funds Senior’s Day Out for residents living with Alzheimer’s at an assisted living facility
• Period Project — Funds to distribute free, sustainable menstrual products to UTD students

Eligibility Requirements

• Led by at least one UT Dallas student. 
• Support student-led service activities that benefit the UT Dallas, local and global communities.
• Supported by a UT Dallas faculty or staff member as evidenced by a letter.
• Have a documented budget and timeline.
• Have a documented plan for evaluating the success of the proposed activity.

Deadlines and Application

Fall Deadline	Spring Deadline
October 1	February 15

Grant recipients must submit an interim and final report on the specific use of granted funds and an evaluation of the project to worsfoldgrant@utdallas.edu.

Talking the Talk

Dr. Jessica Voit (pictured, center) teaches Stefanie Martinez (left), Srividya Nalladdhighal (right) and other Comets HELP volunteers what assisting geriatric patients looks like … and sounds like.

Serving Is Satisfying

Honors College students energetically serve the community. “I love the commitment, the passion, the can-do,” said their dean, Dr. Donal Skinner.