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MLK Day challenges students |
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Tuesday, 05 December 2006 |
by LINDSAY TIGAR
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Appalachian & the Community Together will present the eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Challenge Day Jan. 15.
In
celebration of the day, students are encouraged to participate in a day
full of community service, bonding and remembrance of the values King
stood for.
“Colleges all over the county do a commiseration of MLK,” Katie R.
Norton, a junior elementary education major and day of event
coordinator for the challenge, said.
“What makes the MLK Challenge at Appalachian different and special is the way that it was put together.”
Individuals or groups can sign up to participate in the challenge but
will be split up into 17 different groups at random and sent to sites
that will not be announced until the morning of the event.
“The MLK Challenge was envisioned to raise interest in people,” Norton
said. “By not knowing where they’re going, students get really excited.”
“Typically in community service you work with people you know and you
know what you’re doing,” P. Jud Watkins, a senior journalism major, said.
“With the MLK Challenge, you don’t know and it’s neat to be surprised,” he said.
Each of the sites will help raise money or, in some way, benefit a local non-profit charity or organization.
“At least 17 charities or non-profits will benefit from this challenge,” Norton said.
The day is sponsored by University Highlands Apartments and local
community partners have donated food to help feed the volunteers.The
sites are also called “challenges” because they challenge the students
to work together and accomplish a certain goal, Norton said.
For example, last year one group was assigned the task of raising $1,000 for Oasis.
“The MLK Challenge relates to celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day because MLK was all about brotherhood,” Watkins said.
“As in everybody getting along with everybody and having fun regardless of background or location,” he said.
The MLK Challenge will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 6:30 p.m.
Registration is free and volunteers will also be provided with three meals and a T-shirt.
The early registration deadline for the MLK Challenge is Wednesday and
the regular registration cut-off date is Jan. 11. Around 200 students
will be allowed to participate, so it is suggested to register as soon
as possible.
“If you’ve never been involved in community service and want to make
friends and talk to others who are concerned with social justice, this
could be the gateway to volunteering,” Norton said.
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