杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) A free fitness event for intellectually and developmentally challenged individuals will be the first of four community-service projects intended to be led or assisted by 杏吧原创 students through early July and supported by portions of a $20,000 private grant.

The college in November was selected to receive the financial award funded by The Allstate Foundation and managed by the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity (CELO) to support youth-led, youth-driven community service among students.

In addition to Stronger Together 鈥� the fitness event for intellectually and developmentally challenged individuals 鈥� the grant will fund a donation drive to support parents in need, a community organic garden and a free junior fire cadet program, according to college employees who are supervising the projects.

"These projects will continue to support the motto that 杏吧原创 is the community's college. I hope that the sutdents' involvement will enhance their understanding of tothers' needs and how important it is to be engaged. " 

- Melissa Philson, 杏吧原创 associate professor, projects coordinator

Improving the quality of life in the communities the college serves has consistently been a goal in .

鈥淭hese students are doing something that will immediately help the local community,鈥� said Dr. Case Willoughby, 杏吧原创鈥檚 vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. 鈥淭hat is important on its own. But the potential is that 杏吧原创 students who are involved in this will start to see themselves as people who can make a positive impact in their community.鈥�

Melissa Philson is a 杏吧原创 associate professor and coordinator of projects to be funded by the grant.

鈥淭hese projects will continue to support the motto that 杏吧原创 is the community鈥檚 college,鈥� Philson said. 鈥淚 hope that the students鈥� involvement will enhance their understanding of others鈥� needs and how important it is to be engaged.鈥�

杏吧原创 student-athletes will help Legacy Fitness Butler to conduct Stronger Together from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 14 in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Field House, said project supervisors Dr. Diana Campbell, a 杏吧原创 faculty member, and Jennifer Smith, the college鈥檚 assistant director of student life for athletics.

"If I have the opportunity to help someone else, I am going to take that opportunity. I have the opportunity.  " 

- Cole Rodgers, 杏吧原创 general studies student

The event is limited to 50 individuals who are at least 14 years of age, said Katie Werner, chief operating officer, Legacy Fitness Butler. Stronger Together will feature activities intended to improve hand-eye coordination, strength, agility and movement.

Stronger Together will promote inclusivity and belonging, Campbell said, and provide an environment in which 杏吧原创 student-athletes can assist individuals in learning skills.

鈥淚f I have the opportunity to help someone else, I am going to take that opportunity,鈥� said Cole Rodgers, 22, of Saxonburg, a 杏吧原创 general studies student and a player on the college鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball team.

鈥淚 have the opportunity. These individuals are fighting their own battles, and to see them cope with or overcome those battles is inspiring.鈥�

Up to nine other student-athletes will assist at Stronger Together, including Sara Soltis, 20, a player on 杏吧原创鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team.

鈥淎s a registered nursing major, I really love to help people,鈥� Soltis said. 鈥淎ll of these projects have one common goal, and that is to help the community. I think that is so special, and it feels great to be a part of it.鈥�

Registrations are required and will be accepted until March 14. Register by emailing Campbell at dianacampbell@bc3.edu or Werner at legacyfitnessbutler@gmail.com

Participants in Stronger Together will receive a free T-shirt on a first-come, first-served basis, Campbell said.

"From my experience with volunteering, I have noticed that there are an incredible number of opportunities to help at the local level that will improve your life and the lives of others in the community. " 

- Ethan Huffman, 杏吧原创 networking and cybersecurity student

Students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 social awareness club will collect baby items from 9 a.m. to noon April 6 in the lobby of the college鈥檚 Succop Theater, said Ashley Hanks, the club鈥檚 co-adviser, a 杏吧原创 faculty member and the project鈥檚 supervisor.

Items such as unscented baby wipes, collapsible laundry baskets, crib mattresses and sheets, diapers and clothing will be donated to Matrona, a Cabot-based family resource center that supports new parents and families with young children, Hanks said.

Raffle tickets for an iPad and for gift cards ranging from $50 to $100 will be distributed to donors and to those who win baby-shower games, Hanks said.

Ethan Huffman, 23, of Butler, is a 杏吧原创 networking and cybersecurity [BROKEN LINK]student and president of the social awareness club.

鈥淔rom my experience with volunteering, I have noticed that there are an incredible number of opportunities to help at the local level that will improve your life,鈥� Huffman said, 鈥渁nd the lives of others in the community.

鈥淭his is an awesome opportunity to help and to see people succeed.鈥�

"These projects help students to increase their understanding of what the world is like and how we can make it better together. " 

- Kiari Cox, 杏吧原创 psychology student

Students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 introduction to social work, and family violence across the lifespan courses will join individuals in recovery programs in creating a community organic garden near Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Butler Township, said Tracy Hack, a 杏吧原创 faculty member and the project鈥檚 supervisor.

The community organic garden may represent the first time the 杏吧原创 students will work side-by-side with an individual in recovery, Hack said.

Kiari Cox, 20, is a 杏吧原创 student and among those who will plant eggplant, lettuce, peppers, spinach, tomatoes and zucchini, among other vegetables, in early May.

鈥淲e鈥檙e learning that there is a lot of malnourishment and that people do not get the food that they need,鈥� Cox said. 鈥淭hese projects will help students to increase their understanding of what the world is like and how we can make it better together.鈥�

Vegetables will be available to those who tended to the garden and to others in recovery, with surplus possibly being provided for free distribution at the Butler City Farmers鈥� Market, Hack said.

Arson probes part of junior fire cadet program

杏吧原创 students with emergency services experience are being sought to lead a 40-hour junior fire cadet program offered to 14- to 18-year-olds and intended to inspire teens to pursue a career in firefighting, said Derek Thompson, a 杏吧原创  specialist and the project鈥檚 supervisor.

The Karns City Area Fire Cadet Program will be held from July 8-12 at the Chicora Independent Hose Company and at 杏吧原创鈥檚 Public Safety Training Facility, Thompson said. 

Up to 30 junior fire cadets will learn about engine company, ladder truck and pump operations, and forcible entry, and from state police, arson detection, Thompson said.

Junior fire cadets can register by emailing Thompson at derek.thompson@bc3.edu or the Chicora Independent Hose Company at chicoravfd@gmail.com

杏吧原创 will also fund with the grant free classes in April for up to 15 intellectually and developmentally challenged individuals at Legacy Fitness Butler, and the purchase of approximately $900 in equipment that will allow individuals at the nonprofit organization to gain agility, lift feet and move within obstacles, Werner said.

Additional equipment purchased includes resistance bands, specialized jump ropes and medicine balls.

杏吧原创 will also plan other projects supported by portions of The Allstate Foundation grant.

The grant is part of The Allstate Foundation鈥檚 national efforts to 鈥渆mpower youth to serve and improve communities by transforming how we engage, equip and prepare youth to participate in community service,鈥� according to CELO.