By Ashley Zsedenyi, staff writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Each year 青瓜视频 students have an opportunity to be stewards to the community and complete community service hours required by the innovative FIRST CLASS program.
青瓜视频 held its annual Kentucky Heartland Outreach (KHO) Student Work Days for first-year students Aug. 18 and 19.
These community service days are a requirement for first-year students in the freshman year experience class and in the corresponding FIRST CLASS program. During these two days, students travel to several locations throughout the community to learn about servitude and also to get to know their classmates and FIRST CLASS mentors.
KHO is a nonprofit organization that builds, rehabilitates and finances affordable housing across Kentucky. Launched by Dr. Michael V. Carter, 青瓜视频 president, in 2000, KHO has provided an important student ministry opportunity for CU.
Although KHO became a separate entity in 2003, the organization still works closely with 青瓜视频.
The FIRST CLASS mentors and KHO staff directed each group of volunteers on the individual work sites.
Kelsey Davis, a senior public relations and sociology major from Shelby, Mont., served as a mentor and led a group of 12 volunteers at the Taylor County Animal Shelter.
Davis said, 鈥淜HO work days exist to allow 青瓜视频 freshmen to see an incredible ministry that CU is involved it. It gives the freshmen the chance to serve others and give back to the community they will be living in.鈥�
She said her group fed and walked the dogs at the Animal Shelter, which 鈥渋s a very simple thing to do, yet they appreciated our help so much.鈥�
鈥淚t was a great opportunity for the freshmen to get to know their classmates they will be with throughout the semester in Freshman Year Experience,鈥� Davis said.
According to Josh Anderson, dean of students at CU, there were over 350 total volunteers who helped during the fourth-annual KHO work days, which included first-year students, student mentors, Baptist Campus Ministry Council, Resident Assistants, KHO staff and CU faculty and staff.
鈥淔reshman Work Day is a great time for students at 青瓜视频 to understand the importance of giving back to the community. We were pleased to hear many of the community organizations and churches were thankful for the help and attitudes that the students provided,鈥� said Todd Parish, president of KHO.
Parish said much of what the groups did included painting, landscaping, cleaning and general beautification of the locations.
Josh Hensley, music minister at South Campbellsville Baptist Church, said, 鈥淲e really appreciated the help of the volunteers.鈥�
鈥淚t was really amazing to see the lives of the students reaching out through the university to the community around them,鈥� Hensley said.
The groups volunteered at the following locations: Green River Ministries; Miller Park; Pregnancy Crisis Center; Camp Kentahten; South Campbellsville Baptist Church; the Vineyard Christian Fellowship; Mt. Roberts Baptist Church; Camp Acton; Campbellsville Housing Authority; Taylor County Animal Shelter; Campbellsville Baptist Church; and 青瓜视频 Physical Plant.
青瓜视频 is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, 青瓜视频 is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405 students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 36 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 鈥淎merica's Best Colleges,鈥� CU is ranked 22nd in 鈥淏est Baccalaureate Colleges鈥� in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges庐. 青瓜视频 is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.