Morrisville State College student Justin Gibson took time out of his busy class schedule to make cards for military troops overseas. The sentiment behind his card was more than a thank you. It was a tribute to his late father who served in the Navy.
“I want him to know, as I want [the troops] to know, how much I appreciate their service—for protecting our country and to let them know how important they are to us,” he said.
Gibson joined hundreds of faculty, staff, students and community members who participated in the college’s annual celebration of Founders’ Day. Each year, the college celebrates community service on or around Oct. 26, Founders’ Day, which coincides with the first day of classes at Morrisville in 1910. This year’s event was Oct. 25.
Throughout the day, students carved pumpkins which were donated to residents at Crouse Community Center in Morrisville and filled bags with candy for the annual community Parade of Costumes for local children. Students from MSC, Morrisville-Eaton Central School and members of the Morrisville Lions Club also raked leaves in the village.
A hygiene and food drive, which included donations of vegetables from the college farm, benefited local food cupboards.
A program featuring campus and community service achievements was followed by a tree-lighting in the Administrative Quad. The hundreds of tree lights represent countless community service endeavors.
A member of the New York Campus Compact for Community Service, MSC has an established record of civic engagement ranging from blood drives, coat drives and organizing Easter egg hunts for local children, to helping in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of animals.
Efforts are visible year-round everywhere on campus with Student Government Organization-supported clubs, honors and academic programs, athletes and many others engaging in community service activities.
The Mustang Outreach and Volunteer Efforts group, run by the Student Activities Office, also helps organize, promote and facilitate community service activities. This year, MOVE organized another successful Relay for Life which included participation from more than 200 students and faculty, combined more than 1,000 hours of community service and raised $6,000. MOVE also donated toys to the Morrisville Community Christmas Project for local children.
Additionally, service-learning courses provided a venue for civic engagement and offered services ranging from plant sales to tree planting projects in the village. The college also has reached out to civic groups in both Morrisville and Norwich.
Student athletes also made a significant impact through service work. For the sixth straight year, MSC athletics has reached beyond the previous year’s efforts to serve the community, taking part in 39 different activities, logging more than 3,000 hours of community service and raising nearly $10,000.
Giving to the community goes hand in hand at MSC. Over the years, that spirit has been recognized nationally. The college was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015.