Lucy Welles
liw002@marietta.edu
Marietta College students gathered together bright and early Saturday morning to lend a hand to several local organizations as a part of Make a Difference Day, an annual national service event that the McDonough Center for Leadership and Business has participated in for over 10 years.
First-year McDonough scholars worked in groups to plan unique service projects that came to fruition this Saturday at nine different sites around the Mid-Ohio valley, including Marietta Main Street, Betsey Mills Club, Kroger Wetland, Friends of Lower Muskingum River, Marietta in Bloom, Armory Square, Marietta Cemeteries Coming Alive, Wasco, Inc., and the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg. All Marietta College students had the opportunity to join the first-year scholars in volunteering at these sites.
Michaila Riley, a first-year geology major, led the group who served at the Boys and Girls Club. Volunteers helped to put on an event called STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Children attending the event had the opportunity to experience a variety of educational and creative activities.
“I loved seeing how excited the kids were; how genuinely happy they were to meet the volunteers. They got to make a candy corn fruit cup snack, have their faces painted, craft paper pumpkins, dance and just have fun,” Riley said.
Additionally, participants competed in a Lego robot league and experimented with Skype technology, covering all five bases of the STEAM program.
Marietta College sophomore Courtney Streeter was in her element as a volunteer.
“Being an education major, I work with kids every day. But this day was different, because it wasn’t in a classroom setting. I really enjoyed being able to connect with the kids on a more personal, friend level,” she said.
Director of Civic Engagement at Marietta College, Maribeth Saleem-Tanner, guided Riley’s group of student leaders in the planning process, which took place throughout the semester. Though she connects the students with their community partners, Saleem-Tanner says it is the McDonough first-years who do the majority of the work.
“The philosophy of the McDonough Center is giving back the gift; investing the time, energy, and talents, and resources of students (and faculty and staff) toward enriching and supporting the broader community,” she told The Marcolian.
Saleem-Tanner wants to see volunteers walk away with strengthened relationships and the knowledge that they can truly make a difference.
“I hope that the students, especially the first year students, felt more connected to the campus and the area, and realized that they are part of a wonderful community,” she said.
