Parents and Families Weekend means different things to different people. For some students, the weekend is an opportunity to spend time with members of their families and to show them how they live at the University.
But for one group of parent and student volunteers, the weekend also means a chance to help improve the University.
The volunteers participated in the Student-Family Planting Project from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The project was co-sponsored by the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics and Public Service, University Housing and Grounds Management.
According to Jennifer Bell, associate director of campus activities, the project has always been able to draw volunteers on Parents and Families Weekend.
“The project is currently in its seventh year, and over the past seven years we have had about 300 volunteers work on the project,” Bell said. “This year, we had about 50 volunteers, including parents, students, faculty members and staff, who have installed 103 plants, shrubs and perennials and about 75 cubic yards of mulch.”
The project took place on Central Campus and focused on the landscape around Tucker, Bowen, Metcalf and Carroll residence halls. Bell said the project was intended to make the campus better for students.
“This is a beautification project to enhance the quality of life for students living in our residence halls,” Bell said.
The volunteers who came out to plant the shrubs and spread the mulch named a variety of different reasons for why they decided to be a part of the volunteer service project.
Some of the parents who came to work on the project, including Bill Buerkle, have made the project into an annual tradition.
“We did this last year, and it seemed like a worthwhile project,” Buerkle said.
Buerkle agreed with Bell and said the project would definitely make the area more visually pleasing for the students who live in the area.
“I think the students will have a prettier scenic trip from class to class — it will be nice to look at,” Bell said.
Some of the students who participated in the project said their parents convinced them to become involved with it.
Zack Ladd, a freshman in agricultural business management, said he had a very good financial reason for becoming involved with the project.
“My mom found out about the project on the Internet, and she asked me to come help,” Ladd said. “She pays my tuition, so I don’t complain too much.”