10-Year-Old Event honored by State Department of Higher Education
HARTFORD, Conn. – Trinity College was presented with one of five Higher Education Community Service Awards Wednesday, April 8, in honor of a program that encourages students to work with Greater Hartford organizations to help improve the quality of life and beautify the city.
Called “Do It Day,” the initiative is an annual day of service that takes place at the beginning of the fall semester. It was begun in 1999 and has since flourished, involving hundreds of College students each year.
Presenting the award to Joseph Barber, Trinity’s director of community involvement and civic engagement, was Michael P. Meotti, commissioner of the state Department of Higher Education, and William R. Dyson, chair of the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, which co-sponsors the event. In accepting the award, Barber was joined by several Trinity students. The ceremony took place at the Legislative Office Building, which is adjacent to the state Capitol.
This year, 23 Connecticut colleges submitted 52 nominations for the three award categories of Student, Student Group and Special Award projects led by faculty and staff. The recipients are selected on the basis of their ability “to create projects that distinctly help individuals or community groups; incorporate originality and unique approaches to community service; substantially raise student participation; and address community problems.” This year’s ceremony recognized volunteers for service completed from the spring 2008 semester through the fall 2008 semester.
Trinity’s “Do It Day” program was placed in the category of Student Group Awards. According to the higher education department, in 2008 Trinity “had a record year in attracting more than 600 volunteers to work with 45 Hartford area community organizations in projects such as running health education games with the Central Area Health Education Council and beautifying Hartford’s Pope Park.”
Because “Do It Day” is held on the first weekend of the academic year, it helps to reinforce the underlying principle that dedication and commitment to the community are an essential part of a Trinity education.
Since its inception in 1999, “Do It Day” has grown from 150 participants working with 11 community organizations to the 2008 activity involving 600 volunteers working with 45 groups. Among the projects completed last year were:
- Mulching and weeding in Pope Park.
- Running health education games and activities for an outreach event with the Central Area Health Education Council.
- Assisting a local theater company – the HartBeat Ensemble – with its move to a new building.
- Restoring durable medical equipment for Oak Hill’s New England Assistive Technology Marketplace.
In a sense, “Do It Day” has a dual purpose. It not only contributes to the health and vitality of the city, but it provides volunteers with a quality experience and a sense of fulfillment.
Although many participants sign up as individuals or in small groups, “Do It Day” has become attractive to campus organizations as a way to build cohesion, meet new people, connect with the Hartford region, and start the year on a positive note.
Indeed, “Do It Day” has become an integral event for many athletic teams; multicultural organizations; fraternities and sororities; and residence halls.