June 3, 2026
Damien Kerseborn ’29 logged nearly 1,200 volunteer hours during his first year on the Hill, putting an exclamation point on the College’s Princeton Review #9 Most Engaged in Community Service ranking.
Raised in Suriname, Damien has long been driven by a desire to serve others. In 2023, before his senior year of high school, he moved to the United States and joined the State Department’s Youth Ambassadors (YA). It was during his time at the Miller School of Albemarle in Charlottesville, Virginia, that he first volunteered with emergency medical services (EMS) at the Western Albemarle Rescue Squad and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, igniting a passion that he has brought with him to Hampden-Sydney.
After a fulfilling senior year marked by service in student government, work as a school ambassador, and dedication to EMS volunteering, Damien was encouraged by a high school advisor to visit Hampden-Sydney. “I wasn’t sure whether I should return to Suriname or try to figure something else out. After visiting Hampden-Sydney, I really enjoyed it and loved how tight knit the campus community is. But being an international student who manages my finances by myself, I was unsure if it was possible,” Damien says. Vice President for Enrollment Chrystal Russell was eager to welcome Damien to the brotherhood, and, with financial support from the College and a sponsor family in Charlottesville, Damien says “Everything worked out in the end.”
During his first year on the Hill, Damien devoted much of his time to volunteering with local fire and rescue squads, earning a certification through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, and becoming a state-certified EMT in Virginia. Damien earned the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad Rookie of the Year Award, serving as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and driver/operator. He also served with the Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue as an EMT, driver/operator, and probationary firefighter. With the Hampden-Sydney Fire & Rescue, Damien received the EMT of the Year award and answered nearly 95 percent of calls from August through March while serving as an EMT, EMS lieutenant, attendant in command (AIC), and probationary firefighter.
“Being there for people during some of their most difficult moments is a feeling that’s hard to put into words,” Damien says. “There have been times—such as during this past winter’s snowstorm—when I spent most of my days at the Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue station to make sure there was always a medical professional available.”
Despite pulling multiple 12-hour shifts a week at various fire stations, Damien is also actively involved on campus as a mentor in the Mentor Club, a member of the Garnet and Grey Society, and a student employee for the Ferguson Career Center, the Office of Global Education, and the Office of Student Affairs. This upcoming fall, he will serve as an orientation leader, continuing to assist in any capacity he can.
Damien’s dedication was recognized during the pinning ceremony for 250-hour Service Challenge sponsored by Tigers Serve in commemoration of the College’s 250th Anniversary, where he was honored for logging 1,165 volunteer hours during the academic year—the highest total of any student.
“When I think about the College’s mission, I see it as a lifelong commitment,” Damien says. “Becoming a good man and good citizen doesn’t end when your time at Hampden-Sydney is over. It’s something you carry with you long after you leave the Hill, and you have to be prepared to live it out.”
Already looking ahead to the future, Damien hopes to become an advanced emergency medical technician and potentially pursue medical school or paramedicine. No matter the path he chooses, Damien has already proven himself a good man and good citizen on and off the Hill.