NMCC freshmen begin year with volunteer work
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — For the first time, freshmen resident students at Northern Maine Community College bonded through a number of group activities, and as importantly, connected with the community through volunteer service projects.
Freshmen living on campus arrived for orientation Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 two days before senior resident students. This gave them a chance to get acclimated to their new surroundings and meet their classmates in a more relaxed setting. Then on Saturday, Aug. 27, the freshmen “hit the ground running” to a number of community-partner locations to help with volunteer projects.
“Research shows that the more connected students are with their school and the community, the more likely they are to persist to graduation,” said Jon Blanchard, director of residential life. “We are fortunate to have so many agencies willing to work with our students and we hope our work will benefit them.”
“Volunteerism is an underlying message to our students here — taking responsibility for improving the area they call home,” said Bill Egeler, dean of students. “We promote service to society and our volunteer efforts are a way of thanking our neighbors for being so supportive of the college.”
The work began at 9:30 a.m., concluding around noon.
Among the volunteer sites participating were: the Environmental Protection Agency office in Presque Isle, where students cleaned an outside picnic area; the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle, where volunteers fed and walked the animals; Catholic Charities Farm for ME in Caribou, where they weeded and harvested; and Martha and Mary’s Soup Kitchen in Presque Isle, where students helped with cleanup and landscaping projects. A group of students also joined volunteers from the Aroostook Band of Micmacs helping out with the Kiwanis Kid’s Fun Day at The Forum.
The day, however, was not all work and no play for the 55 freshmen residents. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., Daren Stone, former NFL player and current employee at NMCC’s Smith Wellness Center, led an obstacle course competition, and in the evening students enjoyed a marshmallow roast and s’mores in a nearby picnic area.
