New students ‘plunge’ into Huntington with service
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Huntington, Ind.-New students at Huntington University will plunge into their college experience by volunteering at several places throughout the Huntington community Saturday. For the past 13 years, the University's new students have participated in the Joe Mertz Center Volunteer Plunge. This year 19 teams comprised of more than 300 freshmen, transfer students, mentor students, faculty and staff will clean, paint, do yard work and other various indoor and outdoor projects from 1 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 26.
The Volunteer Plunge is a part-day of community service held each year in conjunction with Huntington University's comprehensive, three-day, new student orientation.
"The Plunge is a wonderful opportunity for Huntington University students to serve the Huntington community," said Crystal Hippensteel, director of new student programming and volunteer service. "It is an exciting experience for students and faculty members to actually get plugged into service organizations in our area and hopefully foster a desire for further community service involvement throughout their time in Huntington."
Service locations for the 2006 Volunteer Plunge include the YMCA, Forks of the Wabash, Riverview Middle School, Huntington Head Start, the American Red Cross, Kids Kampus, Good Shepherd Church, Eastbrook Ranch, Boys & Girls Club, Lancaster Elementary School, the Dan Quayle Center, Salamonie Reservoir and Love, Inc.
Founded in 1992, the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service has become an integral part of Huntington University campus life. During the 2005-2006 school year, students, faculty and staff volunteered for more than 14,500 hours, serving 60 families, organizations and programs.
Huntington University's Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service is a student-directed organization that mobilizes the campus community for Christian service. The JMC aims to involve students in the local community, instill a lifelong tendency toward service and promote the idea that one person can make a difference. The Joe Mertz Center has been listed as an exemplary program in the John Templeton Foundation Honor Roll of Character-Building Colleges.
