Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State student volunteers are dispersing throughout Oktibbeha County and neighboring counties Tuesday [Aug. 16] as part of the university's 2011 Service DAWGS project.
Each year prior to the fall semester, the campus organization designates a day to "give back" to the community and area through various volunteer projects. DAWGS is an acronym for Donating A Wonderful Gift of Service.
MSU President Mark E. Keenum and Bulldog head baseball coach John Cohen will kick off the event at 8:40 a.m. at the Junction.
Participants will complete registration and receive team assignments before departing about 9 a.m. to 23 community work sites. The projects will be complete by 12:30 p.m., after which participants will be treated to lunch.
April Heiselt, who leads the organization, said the activity is designed to give incoming freshmen, returning students, and university faculty and staff the opportunity to make new friends and help the community through various projects. Last year, more than 250 volunteers participated.
Heiselt, an assistant professor of counselor education and educational psychology, also is chair of MSU's community engagement committee.
She said the land-grant institution has a strong tradition of giving back to the state and its communities. Volunteerism also offers tangible benefits to both the community and students, she added.
"Service is a very important part of the learning process, and this is an excellent way for students to start the semester," Heiselt said. "It also gives our new students a great opportunity to connect with the local community in a meaningful way."
Work sites for the 2011 Service DAWGS Day include:
--Ability Works;
--Aiken Village Preschool;
--Boardtown Village;
--Boy Scout Camp Seminole;
--Clay County Development Center;
--Emerson Family School;
--Gaining Ground/Green Starkville;
--Go Play;
--Habitat for Humanity;
--Habitat for Humanity Home Clean-up;
--MSU Parking Services;
--Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum;
--Oktibbeha County Humane Society;
--Oktibbeha-Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services;
--Palmer Home campus;
--Palmer Home thrift stores in Columbus and Starkville;
--Salvation Army;
--Starkville Community Market;
--Starkville Parks and Recreation;
--Starkville Public Library;
--Sudduth Elementary School; and
--T.K. Martin Center.
For more information about Service DAWGS and the Maroon Volunteer Center, visit http://mvc.msstate.edu/.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu.