The Theta Xi chapter of College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota focuses on one community service project in particular year after year. Sister Beverly Raway, a long time Sigma Theta Tau International member, has filled the roll of Research and Scholarship Chair, continues to participate as a Theta Xi board member, and is currently serving as the chapter vice president.
Beginning in summer 2002, Sister Beverly has organized a trip to Tanzania, a country on the central east coast of Africa, every couple years to work in health clinics, orphanages, and other service areas.
Theta Xi has contributed money toward every Tanzania Service Trip thus far and plans to continue to do so for the 2009 visit. Though the monetary support primarily comes from an annual fudge sale, the chapter will be assisting with a car wash in spring 2008 to support travel expenses as well as buying teaching and medical supplies. Averages of twelve students are chosen per trip. They first must attend an informational program then fill out an application; the applicant must state two references, their expectations for the trip, what contributions they feel they can make to ensure the trip’s success, and finally, their personal strengths related to cultural competency. A committee then reviews the applications and makes their selections.
Once in Tanzania, the volunteers collaborate with the Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes. Malaria, typhoid fever, and AIDS plague this poor African country; the average life expectancy of a Tanzanian from birth is 51 years.* The group works in many areas including assessment of mothers and babies in villages, care of children in orphanages, and treatment of health care center patients. 
“Her work with this project has been outstanding and our chapter has been very proud to be a part of assisting with this journey,” says Theta Xi President Donna Churchill. Beverly presents the experiences of her service trips at inductions to inspire and to prove that nurses can gain global experience by becoming a part of it.
*Statistics concerning Tanzania found online in the CIA World Factbook