NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Leah Jackson (jacksonl@nsula.edu)/David West (west@nsula.edu)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/13/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Students, faculty and staff at Northwestern State University concluded a week of activities to emphasize the importance of service learning in the overall college experience.

Approximately 300 students, faculty and staff took part in NSU's first Service Week, which took place on the Northwestern campus and throughout Natchitoches Parish.

"We had a very good response from the entire campus community throughout the week," said Patric DuBois, director of the Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center at NSU and chair of the campus committee which planned Service Week. "I think it is very important for all of us to be involved in one way or another in service. The level of participation shows how the people of Northwestern are committed to helping others."

Activities included canned food drives, campus and cemetery cleanups, serving lunch and providing entertainment for senior citizens and raising money for area charities.

Michelle Raiford of Natchitoches, a Student Activities graduate assistant, was one of several students and NSU staff who served a Thanksgiving lunch to senior citizens at the Council on Aging.

"It is good to get students involved and help out in the community," said Raiford, who also participated in a campus clean up.

"This means so much to our seniors," said Devona Rivers, recreation activities director at Council on Aging. "The seniors are special people. Some feel like they are not important anymore. We want them to know that they are important. You would be amazed at how many come out for an event like this."

Brandon Tipton of Shreveport, president of the Student Activities Board, said the SAB held a can drive contest to get as many student groups involved as possible.

"We wanted to get as many organizations as possible involved by holding the contest," said Tipton, who also donated blood in a campus blood drive.

A group of students from the Wesley Foundation, a Methodist-sponsored campus ministry, cleaned gutters, mowed grass and raked leaves for the Women's Resource Center, a medical clinic that offers free counseling and medical services to 600-800 women each year.

"We are totally non-profit so anything that anyone offers us is welcome," said Becky Stewart, the Center's director. "Whenever we get volunteer services it saves dollars that we can spend on our services and supplies. When I don't have to pay for a yard service, those are dollars I can spend on the ministry."

The Foundation students participating used the experience to prepare for an upcoming mission trip to the impoverished Bahamian island of Eleuthera.

"We wanted to not just do missions outside the states, but locally as well, to help out as much as we can." said April Bunnell of New Orleans.

Another group of students representing the Baptist Collegiate Ministry began clearing a forgotten and overgrown cemetery near the Natchitoches Parish Port at the request of a landowner.

"We were looking or an outdoor project and one that is on-going," said Bill Collins, BCM director. He and several male students battled thick brush, briars and mosquitoes with sling blades and hacksaws to uncover graves with hand-carved inscriptions.

"We wanted to help clean up the community and make it better," said Brian Cubbit of Columbia.

"A lot of people in the community give to the BCM, so it is a good opportunity to give back," said BCM president Josh Karl of Haynesville, who also participated in a campus clean up.

Members of eight campus Greek organizations held a basketball tournament to benefit Goodwill Industries. A group of theatre students also provided entertainment for residents of Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Natchitoches.

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