Two Shepherd University students pitch in during the 2010 Day -f Service, an annual volunteering event organized by Shepherd. (Photo courtesy of Shepherd University)

SHEPHERDSTOWN – Shepherd University’s Office of Student Community Services and Service Learning held its 10th annual Day of Service on Aug. 11 with about 200 first-year students participating.

Holly Frye, director of student community service and service learning, said in the first year, the program visited one site and 15 students took part. Since then, the event has gained momentum and popularity.

The two-day event gives incoming freshmen a chance to get acclimated with campus and get to know other students.

On the first day, teams traveled to 25 sites, where they cleaned, weeded and organized, among other tasks.

The second day was spent helping other students move into their dorms.

Frye and her staff helped direct traffic, answer questions and provide water to thirsty workers, while students unloaded vehicles.

“Do you need water?” Frye asked as she pulled up to a residence hall with a large cooler full of bottled water.

At one stop, a student responded back to her question with “Holly Frye is a tall drink of water.”

It’s moments like these that show the camaraderie between students and the service learning office, which provides a sense of community for students on campus.

“It helps students realize they’re part of a larger community and shows them that by giving a little of themselves, they get a lot in return,” Frye said. “The thing that amazes me is the difference in students from when they check in to the end of day two. Their confidence and camaraderie with each other is amazing.”

Freshmen students Danielle Yokum, from Moorefield, and Kalyn Walker, from Grafton, said the day was an opportunity to make new friends and meet new people.

Students, who worked at Jefferson High School, cleaning windows and weeding flower beds, said that it was an opportunity to bond over a common goal.

Ana Manzano, a senior biology major from Martinsburg, participated in Day of Service as a freshman. Manzano led a group of students at Jefferson High School, and said she wanted to participate because she had lots of fun doing it as a freshman.

“I wanted to provide the first-year students with the same fun day that I had,” she said.

Maria Hampton, from Inwood, said she wanted to participate in Day of Service to get to know other people and help the community.

“It’s been great. It’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Cortney Meador, a sophomore business administration major from Waldorf, Md., participated in Day of Service last year.

“It’s really good to show students that community service is something that everyone does at Shepherd,” Meador said.

Caroline Cusack, a junior from Clarksville, Md., led the group of students working at the Shepherdstown Day Care Center.

“I had a good experience last year, and I wanted to show the new students the importance of community service,” Cusack said.

Courtney Crites, a first-year student from Moorefield, said she wanted to participate because it’s an opportunity to get on campus early and meet new people and help the community.

“It’s such a great place, I wanted to get here early,” she said.

Aaron Ladd, a freshman from Martinsburg, said he wanted to participate because it feels good to do something and help out around campus.

“We had some fun times,” Ladd said.

“It’s nice to have someone come in and do the things that needed special attention,” Michelle Robinson, assistant director of the Shepherdstown Day Care Center, said.

In an e-mail to Frye sent Wednesday, Mark Osbourn, principal of C.W. Shipley Elementary School in Harpers Ferry said, “Our school is a better place because of their contribution.”

Debra Corbett, principal of Ranson Elementary School, said in an e-mail to Frye, “The students once again did a super job. Thanks for your support.”

For upcoming volunteer opportunities, check the office’s website at www.shepherd.edu/scsweb/.