 "Photo: Aaron Saunders/Echo editor-in-chief")
Despite the gloomy weather on the morning of Sept. 17, more than 600 students gathered for Make a Difference Day in the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
Make a Difference Day was initiated by USA Weekend magazine in 1992.
It is a movement to help others with neighborhood and community projects. Students who fully participated received 15 hours of community service, the minimum requirement each semester.
For the project neighborhoods surrounding N.C. Central University were separated into four zones.
In each zone, five groups of students were guided by team leaders.
They cleaned up trash and talked to the residents about events at NCCU and asked them to support the University.
For two hours, students handed out bags with a copy of the Campus Echo and other NCCU swag to persuade residents to get involved with the University.
Students also wanted residents to know that NCCU was here to support them. "This is a great experience to bond with the community as well as our fellow Eagles," said team leader, nursing sophomore Jasmin Sudduth.
At the end of the event, everyone regrouped in the gym and wrote out reflection pieces. During that time various students expressed their thoughts and feelings about their experience.
"It was very productive in picking up trash because we need to keep this community," said audio production freshman Ayodeji Owolabi.
The grand finale of the day was a ceremony at the 800 block of Colfax Street.
It was the groundbreaking for Eagle-Habitat 4, NCCU's fourth house to be built in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity.
"Today was very fulfilling," said freshman Kendrick Jackson.
"It definitely boosted the morale of the community."
For those who were not able to participate in Make a Difference Day, there are still plenty of opportunities to gain hours.
For more information contact the Academic Community Service Learning Program at 919-530-7079 or acslp@nccu.edu.
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