Chronicle photos by Vanessa McGuigan At top, students and faculty clean up at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church. Shown are Jacob Klepp-Egge, Shepherd University Director of Academic Support, Emily Gross, Hailey Keiling and Victoria Sinnett. At bottom, Jamie Delawder and Paige Vanaman clean the kitchen at Shepherdstown Community Club along with Mattea Hastings and Madison Isenberg (not pictured).

Several non-profit organizations in Jefferson and Berkeley counties benefited from the hard work of Shepherd University students enrolled in the Emerging Leaders program, which enables incoming freshmen to kick off their university experience by coming to campus early and rolling up their sleeves for some hard work.

The program, now in its 17th year, had 73 students, along with 20 faculty and staff volunteering at 18 agencies Tuesday.

In Shepherdstown, students worked at the Community Club, the Visitor’s Center, and Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church sweeping, wiping, scrubbing and doing whatever needed to be done.

Marianne Davis from the Shepherdstown Visitor’s Center said, “They’ve (students) been very busy and working hard. They’ve been moving things around, vacuuming, cleaned the curtains-I’m very impressed. This is a win-win for all of us. They are helping do important things that we normally don’t have the time to do.”

Margaret Lipscomb, one of the student volunteers at the Visitor’s Center said, “I’m glad to be able to get to campus early and meet new people. It gives you an opportunity for a head start.”

Volunteer, Victoria Sinnett is no stranger to helping in the community. A Frederick, Maryland native, Sinnett spent many mornings serving breakfast at the Rescue Mission.

“I like to be active and involved in the community,” said Sinnett. “I thought this (day of service) would be a great opportunity to do that.”

Director at Shepherd Academic Support Center, Emily Gross was working along side students at the Presbyterian Church, giving kudos to the efforts made by the students.

“These students are working very hard,” said Gross. “We’ve swept the lot, cleaned the nursery, cleaned windows and chair upholstery. They do such a good job.”

However, it’s not all hard manual labor for the emerging leaders. Service work is just the first day. Subsequent days of their early campus arrival are filled with team-building activities, leadership exploration workshops, games and an outdoor adventure.

As incoming freshmen, the program participants expressed appreciation for the ability to get acquainted with campus early, check in to their dorms, make new friends and get comfortable before the rest of the student body arrives in coming days.

The cost of the program is $150 and includes eight meals, two t-shirts, workshop and outdoor adventure costs. For more information on Emerging Leaders at Shepherd, visit www.shepherd.edu/day-of-service/.