WHO: More than 1,200 Washington University in St. Louis freshmen of a class of nearly 1,500 are expected to participate in community service at 12 local elementary schools.
WHAT: Service First, WUSTL’s largest annual community service project, invites incoming students to get involved in the St. Louis community and challenges them to give back. Approximately 100 students will head to each school to complete creative projects developed by the school principals and staff members, including painting playground maps and indoor and outdoor murals, creating bulletin boards, and assisting teachers in preparing classrooms for the new school year.
WHERE: 12 St. Louis-area schools: Central Visual and Performing Arts, Fanning, Ford, Gateway IT, Henry, Jefferson, Long, Mallinckrodt and Sumner in the Saint Louis Public School District; Brittany Woods and Flynn Park in the School District of University City; and KIPP: Inspire Academy charter school.
WHEN: Approximately 12:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011
MORE: The students will return to the university for a community service fair from 4 to 7 p.m. on the clock tower patio on the South 40, where they will learn more about the myriad community service opportunities in which they can get involved during their time at WUSTL.
Service First began in 1999 with about 600 student volunteers helping to clean and beautify scenic trails. It has grown and flourished each year, with more than 1,000 students, staff and faculty volunteers participating.