As the calendar turns to a season known for giving, we’re shining a spotlight on Gorillas who are giving their time and talent throughout the community.
Jordan Eidson, Hailey Denton, Hannah Eckstein, and Marque English
Helping agencies
This fall, about 20 students majoring in social work have decided on, planned, and are implementing individual projects to benefit agencies that serve those in need.
This initiative has been led by Associate Professor Kristen Humphrey for several years, and even the pandemic didn’t stop it — in Spring 2020, her students still were able to raise $3,098 and collect more than 4,000 items including clothing, food, toy cars, and arts and crafts supplies to benefit others.
Among this fall’s projects:
- • A nonperishable food drive led by Kori Robinson for children in elementary schools in Miami, Oklahoma, where Robinson attended school and her mother teaches.
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- • An open mic and household item collection for domestic violence awareness by Hailey Denton and Haley Miller in partnership with Safehouse Crisis Center and the Moss House. Miller also sold shirts she designed to benefit Moss House.
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- • Weekly activities for senior citizens at Guest Home Estates led by Jordan Eidson to foster relationships. “The goal of this project is to remind both older adults and other community members that everyone plays an important role in our society regardless of age, beliefs, culture, or differences,” she said.
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- • A clothing drive led by Irvin Augur to benefit children in Meadowlark Elementary School.
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- Mentoring youth
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- The PSU Women’s Basketball team and head coach Amanda Davied spent time with students in the George Nettels Elementary School Dragon Academy, giving them a tour of the locker room, visiting, answering questions, and discussing what it takes to be a successful athlete.
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- They also invited the Academy to sit in on one of their practices.
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- Collecting coats
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- Marque English, a member of the PSU Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the PSU Men’s Basketball team, is conducting a coat drive to benefit elementary students in the Pittsburg School District.
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- Creating awareness
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- Hannah Eckstein, a biology major from Frontenac and member of the PSU Honors College, created a breast cancer awareness advocacy campaign called “Protect Ur Girls.”
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- “The central objective is to reach not only the students of Pitt State but also the greater Pittsburg community with lifesaving information about prevention and early detection,” she said.
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- In partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the leading charity in breast cancer research, she coordinated several activities and fundraisers — including PSU President Dan Shipp and other leaders taking pies in the face on the Oval, a percentage of latte sales at Root Coffeehouse, a Krispy Kreme donut sale on campus.
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- To date she has raised $1,372.
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- Facilitating friendships
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- A group of PSU students in the volunteer organization Natural Ties facilitates friendships with adults with developmental disabilities. The group meets each Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center for crafts, games, and other activities.
"When I was exploring community service opportunities my freshman year, I went to the Natural Ties beginning of the year picnic and immediately knew this was something I wanted to be a part of,” said Rylee Dennis, a graduate student in math from Trimble, Missouri.
“I enjoy going to Natural Ties because of the friendships I have made. I love getting to know them and seeing their joy when they win bingo, show off their Halloween costume, or even just when they tell me about their recent adventures. It has become almost like a family group to me and I am grateful for having this opportunity at PSU.“
