DUBOIS – Students and staff from Penn State DuBois helped to commemorate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. with a week full of activates.
One of the most influential activities was the MLK Day of Service, when students from Penn State DuBois, as well as five other Penn State campuses, celebrated this Martin Luther King Jr. Day serving others. The regional Penn State Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off Day of Service gives students the chance to give back each Martin Luther King Jr. Day, rather than just take the day off while classrooms are closed.
In its second year, the Regional event was designed to bring several Penn State Campuses together, and rotate through a new community in each of the campus’ service areas each year. The efforts are coordinated by Student Activities Leaders at each Penn State location. This year, DuBois, Shenango, Beaver, Fayette, New Kensington, and Greater Allegheny campuses joined forces. Greater Allegheny hosted this service day, and the entire group of 80 students and staff members joined forces to volunteer around the campus’ area of McKeesport to commemorate King’s passion for community service.
The Penn State team worked with Auberle, a home for abused, neglected and troubled children throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania, and with the Healthy Start and Earthen Vessels program. The volunteers spent time teaching the children team building exercises, doing arts and crafts, and discussing the life and legacy of King.
“It was a great experience sharing the love that was behind Reverend Martin Luther King’s messages with foster care kids that aren’t nearly as fortunate as us,” said Penn State DuBois student Kyle Gordon.
Fellow student Chris Kolp agreed, saying, “There is nothing like selflessness. I highly recommend taking time out for others; this world needs it more than ever.”
DuBois Student Life Coordinator Marly Doty said she was impressed with the dedication the Penn State students had for serving the children they worked with.
“I am humbled to work with such giving and caring students,” Doty said. “I was amazed at the depth and insight the students gave. Our future looks brighter in this world with students like this.”
Last year, organizers of the MLK Day of Service won the Vice President’s Award for Outstanding Program.
Other activities throughout the week included a Multimedia Presentation on the Civil Rights Movement, a screening of the film In Remembrance of Martin, and the establishment of a Dream Board, where students were encouraged to write down their dreams and have them posted in the Student Union.