Students Honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s Memory with Service Day

Before the books have been cracked open for Spring 2012, University of Tampa students will already have been hard at work.

More than 110 students will be making an impact and honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s memory by spending time in the Tampa community with various volunteer projects on Monday, Jan. 16, as part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Students will volunteer from 9 to 11 a.m. at various local nonprofits including:

Seniors in Service — cleaning and organizing apartments and interacting with the residents in HUD assisted facilities for independent elders
Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful — help dispose of trash and debris in the mangroves.

“It is important to continue to carry out Dr. Martin Luther King's passion for improving the community and serving others,” said Ashley Hawley ‘13, student coordinator with the PEACE (People Exploring Active Community Experience) Volunteer Center. “Plus, it gives students the opportunity to begin their spring semester at the University by participating in something positive for the community.”

The service day comes one day before classes begin so students don’t have to worry about finding time in their busy academic and extracurricular schedules.

“I always tell students that they should not only go to school at The University of Tampa but be involved with the community that surrounds the school,” said Hawley. “In addition, the importance of giving back through volunteering is a great way for students to meet other students that are as dedicated to volunteering as themselves, network with volunteers that run nonprofits, meet new people and they may even discover what they want to do for the rest of their lives through volunteering.”

Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. in the Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall on campus, before buses take them to the various sites. Students will return to campus by noon. The event is organized by the student-run PEACE Volunteer Center.

For more information, contact Hawley at peace@ut.edu or (813) 253-6263.

Jamie Pilarczyk, Web Writer
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