College students take ‘action,’ volunteer
Published 6:38 pm Sunday, August 22, 2010
By KATIE JOHNSON
Niles Daily Star
Andrews University volunteers were split into teams to tackle cleanup projects at Arthur Dodd Memorial Park, 5 miles east of Niles in Cass County. Pictured are, from left: junior Marjorie Etienne, of Virginia; freshman William Decker, of Wisconsin; junior Kristin Badzik, of California; and sophomore Shawn Lee, of Chicago. Their team shoveled mud from Dowagiac Creek so the water can move freely.
As if being an incoming college freshman isn’t intimidating enough, some students have added shoveling mud, building fences and staining wood to their itinerary.
In a cooperative effort among Andrews University and the Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, the Cass County Parks and Recreation Commission and Meeting the Ecological and Agricultural Needs within the Dowagiac River System organization hosted a volunteer action day Friday at the 51-acre Authur Dodd Memorial Park, 61437 Creek Rd.
The students worked along the Dowagiac River, clearing out mud to maintain water flow, filling the playground area with wood chips, building a fence and staining park equipment.
The program, initiated by Andrews University in Berrien Springs, encourages incoming freshmen to have a day of volunteering within the community; it was not mandatory.
To learn more about Dodd Park, visit www.casscountymi.org/countyparks/aspx and click on “Arthur Dodd Memorial Park.”
