NSU students participate in 1 of 7 community service initiative
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Northwestern State University students began the fall semester by volunteering throughout the Natchitoches community Friday as part of the 1 of 7 initiative, which encourages students to choose one day each week to do something for someone else.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Northwestern State University students began the fall semester by volunteering throughout the Natchitoches community Friday as part of the 1 of 7 initiative, which encourages students to choose one day each week to do something for someone else.
Students gathered in the Student Union before departing for service projects across the area. The service day was part of the university’s first-week activities and introduced students to volunteer opportunities available throughout their time at NSU.
The 1 of 7 initiative at NSU grew from a movement created by NSU alumnus Kip Patrick and his wife, Liz Zipse, who spent 16 months traveling through 24 countries and volunteering at least one day each week. Patrick, a Converse native who earned a journalism degree from NSU in 1995, returned to the university as the 2014 New Student Convocation speaker. President’s Leadership Program coordinator Reatha Cox collaborated with Patrick to bring the concept to campus.
President’s Leadership Program mentor Madi Book said service is vital to leadership development. "I think to be a good leader you must first be a servant and that makes you a servant leader," Book said.
"You don't have to be the loudest person in the room to make a difference. You can simply pick up trash or be a mentor to someone at the boys and girls club and that makes you a good leader."
Third-year mentor Ellie Hardy noted that participants included members of sororities, fraternities and service groups such as the Student Government Association, President’s Leadership Program and Purple Jackets.
Service sites included the American Cemetery, Boys & Girls Club, Women’s Resource Center, Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, NSU E-Lab Butterfly Garden, NSU Food Pantry, Timber Ridge Park, Service League of Natchitoches, and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.
Projects ranged from landscaping, garden maintenance and exhibit preparation to homework assistance, cleanup and food pantry organization.