Workmen drill a hole into the pavement beside a new flower bed, which was designed and planted by community volunteers over the summer, at the King Street entrance to Shepherd University’s campus. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — When Shepherd University students returned to campus on Aug. 25, they saw a campus brought a little more to life over the summer, thanks to the hard work of community volunteers like Elisabeth Staro.

The Shepherdstown resident has spent the last nine years providing landscaping support to the university, after being made aware of the need for an extra pair of helping hands in beautifying the grounds of Shepherd’s campus. She, herself, had already been operating a side business in landscaping, and so knew more than a thing or two about how to best assist in this area.

“I was asked, and I said, ‘Yes,'” Staro, who has lived in Shepherdstown for 20 years, said. “I started out as part of the group, the Friends of Popodicon, that have been renovating the building and the gardens over there. The Friends of Popodicon is a very active group — we’ve completely refurbished the house, and the grounds sort of look like grounds — it’s a constant battle, between deer and groundhogs.”

Staro, in fact, was one of the original members of the Friends of Popodicon, which was formed in 2017 for the purpose of bringing the business residence of Shepherd University’s presidents back to life. She has served as lead gardener for the project, alongside interior designer John Miller. The colonial Georgian-style manor house, located at 109 Shepherd Grade Road, is now in excellent enough shape to serve as a side hustle for the university, bringing in extra funds from when it is rented out as an event venue.

But outside of Popodicon, she could also be found this summer, putting her landscaping skills to good use in the new flower beds framing the entry point to campus on King Street.

“I do this, because I enjoy it,” Staro said. “Shepherd University is a vital part of the town and a reason why many people come to this town. We need them and they need us.”

Shepherd University Executive Director of University Communications Hans Fogle could not agree more.

“Community volunteers have made significant contributions to the university over the years,” Fogle said. “Volunteers from the President’s Club recently worked to design and plant the flower beds along the newly paved King Street. We have had tremendous volunteer support at the Agricultural Innovation Center, and we have ongoing support from volunteers to operate our students through initiatives like the Ram Clothing Closet and Ram Food Pantry. These are just a few examples of the lasting impact our community partners have on our students and campus.”

He was seconded in this by Shepherd University Coordinator of Student Community Services and Special Initiatives Jackson Heath.

“Community volunteerism is deeply valued at Shepherd, because it strengthens the connections between students, the campus and the surrounding community,” Heath said.

Heath encouraged community members, who are interested in volunteering on campus, to email him at jheath@shepherd.edu.