More than 700 students, faculty and staff swamped the city of Huntsville in the university’s largest community service project, according to Student Government Association officials.
The event allows any member of the Sam Houston State University community to sign up and participate in community service all over Huntsville and Walker County.
Event goers participated at places like the National Forest, SAAFE House, Tomorrows Promise, the Wynne Home and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
Although more than 1,300 students registered for the event, Bearkat All-Paws-In director Cristan Shamburger said the event was still a success.
I’m incredibly proud of the work that SGA put into this event, Shamburger said. The Bearkat All Paws In committee and fellow Senators spent hours upon hours in the office preparing registration forms, inputting volunteer data, and putting together volunteer packets. Because of them, the event started and ended on time and the registration process ran as smoothly as it could.
More than 80 groups participated in community service.
Univeristy President Dana Gibson, Ph.D., not only kicked off the day, but participated at four different locations.
The response of our students to participating in (the event) was overwhelming, Gibson said. Although it was cold and windy, the students enthusiastically accepted their responsibilities and the challenges of the day to make improvements in the community. This activity is just another example of how our students take ownership of their home away from home while attending Sam Houston State University.
BAPI founder Mariel Kanene, Huntsville Mayor Mac Woodward and Dean of Students John Yarabeck also participated and spoke at the event.