STORY BY CORIE LYNN
On Wednesday evening, September 19, student volunteers worked around McMindes Hall and the creek to pick up trash.
This service opportunity was organized by the National Residence Hall Honorary.
“They’re taking garbage bags and wearing gloves, and going outside and just picking up trash around the community,” said NRHH advisor Jackie Day, “During football games and other big events trash gets put around a lot on the ground; they’re going around and making the community look nicer.”
In order to do this, volunteers for the National Residence Hall Honorary had to seek out the parts of campus that had the most litter.
“We went around and picked up trash in the most polluted areas [of campus],” said freshman volunteer Abby Hayes.
When asked what she thought about service, on the Fort Hays campus and in its community, Hayes said that she believed more people should participate in service.
Through the NRHH, students have this opportunity.
“[The National Residence Hall Honorary is] the top one percent of on campus students,” said NRHH Treasurer Matthew Frazier, “Basically they have […] two pillars: service and recognition.”
He went on to explain that the NRHH is the organization that recognizes many members of the Fort Hays community for their on-campus work. The NRHH is also recognizes “Of the Months.”
“We recognize them and then we give them candy, an award for them,” said Frazier, “That can be submitted until the end of the year when we have a big banquet as well.”
While recognition is important, the other pillar, service, is equally important.
To maintain the value, the NRHH arranges service opportunities throughout the year. This includes service activities on the Fort Hays campus and off.
At the moment, the organization has no other service events planned. However, students should continue to look to the NRHH for future service activities.
“We like to take the opportunity to create events on campus so that, not only we can provide service for the community, residents also can,” said Day.
Through the pillars of service and recognition, the NRHH seeks to make improve their community, as well as encourage community residents, those who are on campus and off, to do the same.