4/25/12
 |
Macon a Difference Day is an annual campus-wide initiative. |
|
|
On April 22, 2012, Randolph-Macon College celebrated
Macon a Difference Day.
Macon a Difference Day is an annual campus-wide initiative that brings together the college’s clubs, organizations and academic and administrative departments. Students, staff and faculty volunteer their time and energy and at the same time make connections with the Ashland community by working toward a common goal.
Now in its seventh year, Macon a Difference Day has evolved into an Earth Day community-service celebration, and this year more than 200 R-MC students worked alongside staff, faculty and citizens. In all, 293 volunteers planted trees, flowers and shrubs, cleaned up local parks, and picked up trash along Mechumps Creek. Members of R-MC’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity put their hammers and saws to good use as they helped with the construction of a house in Ashland. Volunteers collectively gave 900 hours of their time to Macon a Difference Day.
The first Macon a Difference day was small, according to
Sociology Professor Reber Dunkel, who serves as coordinator of the Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer Experiences (
SERVE) program.
“Our modest agenda was heralded by the following invitation: ‘Come and be a part of a campus-wide initiative to get R-MC students involved with our community,’” says Dunkel. “Cost-wise, we managed to break even, but we considered the first Macon a Difference Day a success and decided to do a repeat. Since those fledgling days we have continued to encourage students to volunteer for projects that not only promote stewardship of our planet but support community organizations and the Town of Ashland.”
Beginning in 2009, a student has served as the Macon a Difference Day executive director.
Elanya Chin ’13, a
philosophy and
international studies major, has for the past two years served in that capacity.
“As a freshman, I signed up as a volunteer to do park clean-ups for Macon a Difference Day,” recalls Chin. “The experience was challenging and meaningful. After cleaning up four parks, we were exhausted but in good spirits. Seeing the camaraderie between students, staff, faculty and members of the Ashland community left a lasting impression on me.”
Spanish Professor Kimberly Borchard has for the past three years worked as a Macon a Difference Day volunteer.
“I invited my students along and they learned a bit of gardening and farming vocabulary—such as
poner mantillo, or mulch, and
azada, or hoe—while doing community service and celebrating Earth Day,” says Borchard.
One of the yearly features of Macon a Difference Day is tree-planting, with President Robert R. Lindgren and Mayor Faye Prichard, shovels in hand, digging alongside students, staff and faculty.
“Not only does this symbolically unite the Town and the college, it assures that we continue our ‘greening’ efforts to make our community a healthier place to live,” says Dunkel. This year, a Cherokee Princess dogwood was planted near the corner of Caroline Street.
Student organizations were well-represented at this year’s Macon a Difference Day: Greek Life, Alpha Phi Omega, Brothers 4 Change, Habitat for Humanity, Randolph Artists and Writers, Students for Environmental Action, and residential units helped make the day a success.
“I was very pleased to see the number of volunteers who came out this year,” says Christina Cozart, associate director of
residence life and housing. “We owe our students, faculty and staff a huge debt of gratitude for seeing the value in service and stepping up to help our community.”