WATERLOO — Courtney Tran was proud to hear Wilfrid Laurier University had the highest number of students and alumni with volunteer experience in a LinkedIn survey.

The fourth-year communications student is a dedicated volunteer for Laurier's safe-walk service, Foot Patrol. She is one of 9,000 Laurier students who volunteer on and off campus.

"It's like a really big family," she said.

LinkedIn analyzed millions of professional profiles from around the world and looked at added experience under the "volunteer and causes" category. It found Laurier had the highest proportion of student volunteers and alumni who volunteered as students.

David McMurray, vice-president of student affairs, was thrilled when he heard the news.

"We weren't surprised at all," he added.

Three other Canadian universities were in the top five of LinkedIn's survey.

Laurier is one of 40 Canadian universities to offer the option of co-curricular programs, a curriculum that aligns extracurricular activities alongside academic work.

Students also receive a co-curricular record detailing volunteer work that can be submitted with a resume.

"It is based on what they really learn through volunteer experience," McMurray said.

Shawn Pedersen, Foot Patrol co-ordinator, said by the end of his time at Laurier, he will have logged about 1,000 hours with the service.

"I just wanted to give back to the community," the fourth-year French language student said.

Volunteerism is ingrained in Laurier's campus culture and McMurray said he thinks it is "unmatched" by other schools.

The university's giving spirit goes back to the 1960s when the annual fundraiser for cystic fibrosis, Shinerama, was born. It's now the largest post-secondary fundraiser at Canadian universities.

Pedersen clocks in 20 to 30 hours per week. That might seem like a lot, but between a reduced course load, a paid job and volunteering, Pedersen said he manages his time well.

"I would rather graduate in five years than four because the experiences mean so much more," he added.

McMurray said volunteer experience can boost resumes. He thinks many Laurier grads will have an edge when they enter the job market.

Tran agreed. "If you're only focused on academics, you're not building that social experience," she said.

She added between the responsibility of a student's safety and working with others, Foot Patrol offers skills you don't learn in a classroom.

About 100 volunteer patrollers walk with students from 6:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. daily.

No walk is too short or too long for these coed pairs of volunteers equipped with two-way radios, flashlights and a fanny pack of first aid supplies.

Whether it is pouring rain or -40 C outside, Foot Patrol will walk you home. "It takes a really dedicated volunteer to do this," Pedersen said.

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Universities like Carleton University in Ottawa pay students to do what Pedersen and Tran do. But they don't feel disgruntled about that.

"Imagine being paid to do this?" Tran asked Pedersen. They both laughed at the thought.

"Most of us have jobs that pay us," Tran said. "Personally, I think because we are not paid, the people we get are more passionate about it."