Western Carolina University

10/14/2008 -

Above: Honors College students plant marigolds to beautify Cullowhee. (Photo by WCU student Jarrett Frazier)

More than 150 students from Western Carolina University’s Honors College dedicated hours of service this fall to revitalizing Cullowhee, from painting over graffiti to volunteering at a fundraising concert.

Student leaders coordinated efforts to pick up litter along Old Cullowhee Road, remove kudzu, plant marigolds and pull concrete, rebar and debris out of the Tuckaseigee River.

They also designed T-shirts and developed a logo for the nonprofit Cullowhee Revitalization organization called target=_blank_>CuRvE.

 

Jeffrey Small (top) paints over graffiti while Regina Cline (above) lifts debris out of the Tuckaseigee River. (Photos by WCU student Jarrett Frazier)

In addition, students assisted CuRvE with ticket design, seating assignments, sales and support for a fundraising concert – a reunion performance of a band called Cullowhee. The event raised more than $2,000 for a proposed entrance sign for the community.

“We selected this service project for the Honors College because we wanted to do something where we could see progress from year to year, focus on the environment and strengthen the relationship between the campus and the community,” said Erin Ponder, a junior nursing major from Hendersonville and president of the Honors College student board of directors. “We feel that Cullowhee is our second home.”

Justin Kleberg, a freshman in the Honors College from Pittsboro, said he spent about two hours helping remove the remains of an old bridge from the Tuckaseigee River.

“I am an avid whitewater kayaker and am very passionate about the preservation of river and creeks where I and my friends actively recreate,” said Kleberg. “I was extremely excited about the opportunity to clean up the river. Everyone felt rewarded as we looked onto the giant heap of concrete and rebar that we removed with our own hands, and I found it very rewarding to see everyone having fun while working together to better the community in which we live.”

Christopher Blake, CuRvE co-chair, said the students’ assistance and enthusiasm made a difference.

“In every one of the projects, this outstanding group of students took the initiative to find out exactly what needed to be done, and they completed the work with finesse,” said Blake, a Cullowhee resident and WCU assistant professor of English. “Their efforts were a wonderful boost to the morale of our organization and the community of Cullowhee.”

Above: Honors College students pick up litter along Old Cullowhee Road. (Photo by WCU student Jarrett Frazier)

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Last Modified: Tuesday, October 14, 2008