Anna Faltermeier/Sun Gazette Kristy Biermann, Park University freshman, plants bulbs Oct. 1 near the entrance to the college. Wednesday was the first Park University service day. More than 200 students participated to beautify the campus and Parkville community.
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A day of service
Campus, community benefit from roughly 500 hours of volunteer help
By Ray Weikal
Santa Clause should be happy when he visits Parkville this year, thanks to an early Christmas present from some area college students.
About 225 Park University students plus another two dozen faculty and staff members spent a couple of volunteer hours Oct. 1 beautifying their campus and Parkville, including Santa’s temporary home at English Landing Park.
“It’s an enormous godsend. These kids have stepped up to the plate,” said Cathy Kline, proprietor of a nearby art gallery. “They all seem to have a tremendous work ethic.”
A member of the Parkville Mainstreet Association, Kline helped supervise about 10 students at the converted trailer used by Santa during the holiday season. The students primed, painted and stained wood, washed windows and polished copper. The small home had been recently damaged by flooding, Kline said, and needed to be either repaired or abandoned.
Students and staff worked on 12 projects during the first Park University Service Day, something that organizers plan to make an annual event, said Media Coordinator Toni Cardarella. Assistance was provided by the Student Life Office, first-year seminar classes, Environmental Services, the Park Student Government Association, Alpha Phi Omega and Campus Activities Board.
Park University actually has a long history of community service, student government President Javier Centonzio said.
“Park College had a system of students working while going to school,” said Centonzio, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and political science major. “Service has been over-shadowed by a ‘what’s in it for me?’ attitude. We’re helping to instill that principal of public service.”
Other work performed during the day included projects at Julian Field, the Thompson Courtyard, the main campus entrance and outside the President’s House. Volunteers repainted handrails, planted daffodil bulbs, created new walking paths, cleared brush, did landscaping and washed windows.
Caroline Heckman is the coordinator for student leadership and engagement programs at Park University. The service day, Heckman said, fits right in with the university’s larger educational mission.
“Many members of the Park community work throughout the year to make our campus and local and national communities a better place through beautification projects, assistance to others in need and philanthropic fundraisers,” Heckman said. “This is one day to celebrate those efforts and focus them specifically on our campus and the surrounding Parkville area.”
Public service and civic fraternity are important facets of what students learn at Park University, said Debra McArthur, director of academic support services.
“We hope our students will gain a more tangible sense of ownership in their campus home, as well has developing a stronger sense of community through their work with their classmates and faculty,” McArthur said.
Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or rayweikal@npgco.com.
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About 225 Park University students plus another two dozen faculty and staff members spent a couple of volunteer hours Oct. 1 beautifying their campus and Parkville, including Santa’s temporary home at English Landing Park.
“It’s an enormous godsend. These kids have stepped up to the plate,” said Cathy Kline, proprietor of a nearby art gallery. “They all seem to have a tremendous work ethic.”
A member of the Parkville Mainstreet Association, Kline helped supervise about 10 students at the converted trailer used by Santa during the holiday season. The students primed, painted and stained wood, washed windows and polished copper. The small home had been recently damaged by flooding, Kline said, and needed to be either repaired or abandoned.
Students and staff worked on 12 projects during the first Park University Service Day, something that organizers plan to make an annual event, said Media Coordinator Toni Cardarella. Assistance was provided by the Student Life Office, first-year seminar classes, Environmental Services, the Park Student Government Association, Alpha Phi Omega and Campus Activities Board.
Park University actually has a long history of community service, student government President Javier Centonzio said.
“Park College had a system of students working while going to school,” said Centonzio, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and political science major. “Service has been over-shadowed by a ‘what’s in it for me?’ attitude. We’re helping to instill that principal of public service.”
Other work performed during the day included projects at Julian Field, the Thompson Courtyard, the main campus entrance and outside the President’s House. Volunteers repainted handrails, planted daffodil bulbs, created new walking paths, cleared brush, did landscaping and washed windows.
Caroline Heckman is the coordinator for student leadership and engagement programs at Park University. The service day, Heckman said, fits right in with the university’s larger educational mission.
“Many members of the Park community work throughout the year to make our campus and local and national communities a better place through beautification projects, assistance to others in need and philanthropic fundraisers,” Heckman said. “This is one day to celebrate those efforts and focus them specifically on our campus and the surrounding Parkville area.”
Public service and civic fraternity are important facets of what students learn at Park University, said Debra McArthur, director of academic support services.
“We hope our students will gain a more tangible sense of ownership in their campus home, as well has developing a stronger sense of community through their work with their classmates and faculty,” McArthur said.
Staff writer Ray Weikal can be reached at 389-6637 or rayweikal@npgco.com.