service

Service Scholars meet Carter on annual retreat

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Published Jan 25, in Features, Uncategorized

The Mercer Service Scholars spent their annual retreat in Americus, Ga., over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. They spent the weekend furthering the organization’s relationship with the Fuller Center for Housing through service projects in Americus and at Koinonia Farms. On Sunday, the group attended a church service with former president Jimmy Carter.
Anuj Patel, a Service Scholar in his junior year, planned the event with significant input from the program’s director, Dr. Chris Grant.
“Since we do a lot of stuff with the Fuller Center, we decided to do a retreat that centered solely around the Fuller Center,” Patel said.

The Mercer Service Scholars spent their annual retreat in Americus, Ga., over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend. They spent the weekend furthering the organization’s relationship with the Fuller Center for Housing through service projects in Americus and at Koinonia Farms. On Sunday, the group attended a church service with former president Jimmy Carter.
Anuj Patel, a Service Scholar in his junior year, planned the event with significant input from the program’s director, Dr. Chris Grant.
“Since we do a lot of stuff with the Fuller Center, we decided to do a retreat that centered solely around the Fuller Center,” Patel said.
Armed with brushes and scaffolding, the Service Scholars spent that Saturday helping the Fuller Center repaint the exterior of a local home. They also took it upon themselves to help renovate the backyard shed.
“I actually think we got to do a lot more service this year,” Bailee Kitchens, a sophomore Service Scholar, said. “Working with the Fuller Center was really exciting; it made the work more relevant to what we are doing as a group.”
The students spent Sunday in Plains, Ga., where the first thing on their itinerary was a visit to Maranatha Baptist Church. After a security check that involved bag searches, metal detectors and a bomb-sniffing dog, the group sat down with other guests to a Sunday school lesson delivered by former president Jimmy Carter.
Carter had just returned from a visit to Egypt with his own non-profit organization, the Carter Center. He had been observing Egypt’s first parliamentary elections as part of the Carter Center’s goal to support democracy across the globe. Before beginning his Sunday school lesson, Carter gave his audience a recap of his visit.
“I enjoyed the brief current events lesson he gave before the Sunday school lesson started, talking about the free elections in Egypt and what the Carter Center is doing there,” Kitchens said.
After church the scholars spent some time visiting historical sites in Plains, Ga., the headquarters of Carter’s presidential campaign and his hometown. Carter, who is thus far the only president to come from Georgia, took office in 1977 as the thirty-ninth president of the United States. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have worked with the Fuller family since 1984, assisting in builds and work days.
Additionally during their retreat, the Service Scholars spent a few hours at the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center, the Christian commune Koinonia Farms. The founder of both organizations, Millard Fuller, lived at Koinonia for several years with his family under the guidance of his mentor, Clarence Jordan.

LEAP tops 5,000 volunteer hours

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Published Dec 7, in Campus, City, News

On November 19, the student organization called Local Engagement Against Poverty, better known as LEAP, jumped past 5,000 hours of service by the student body since its inception. When asked why he attends LEAP service days, sophomore Peer Advisor Kevin Jiles said “[LEAP] has been a great tool for Mercer students to get involved, give back, and help the community of Macon.” It is this kind of thought that has caused LEAP to thrive on the growing campus of Mercer, as it passes 8,300 students for the first time in school history.
LEAP’s ultimate goal of 10,000 hours service is within striking distance, especially due to a healthy involvement from the student organizations on campus. Student Government Association has routinely had its elected officials attend the various Saturday service days, held every two weeks and open to the general student body. SGA has definitely lived up to their billing as the leaders of the campus by coming out every weekend.
Alpha Tau Omega, last year’s winner of Mercer’s Grant Hendricks Award for Community Service, given to the organization that put together the best philanthropic efforts that school year, has also had a large number of brothers attending service days. Junior James Hedgis has helped out because he “wants to do lots of good things for the community, and [he] enjoys the experience and fellowship.”
By and large, these are not the only two organizations that have put together regular contingents to attend service days. Delta Sigma Theta, Kappa Sigma, Mercer Service Scholars, Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Mercer’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity, ROTC, several FYS sections, and some residence halls have all gotten in on the events.
Tau Beta Pi’s Vice President Jared Wozny has even begun to recruit his fellow members to do service days by being open and frank to them about his thoughts on the matter. “I do LEAP service because I enjoy seeing people in the community so thankful for the work we do,” Wozny said after witnessing one of the family members in a particular work site being so excited as she saw work done on her home.
LEAP has cast a wide net in the community, and while there have been some of the same organizations such as Rebuilding Macon and Habitat for Humanity repeatedly come back for more assistance from the hard-working student body, more groups such as Loaves and Fishes have begun to welcome Mercer students in for lots of service.
The Loaves and Fishes director of development Mary Gatti welcomed Mercerians to a workday for the first time on Dec. 3, helping restore a house that will become a transitional home for single mothers and people who might have fallen recently into homelessness and were working their way back out.     “LEAP has made it possible for many more individuals to get into our transitional housing with the work they did [in the most recent service day]. They are furthering our goals for the Macon homeless that are trying to get on their feet,” said Gatti.
While this might have been great for the director of the program to see such great and unexpected progress made in one day, it does not always translate into success from the volunteers. LEAP has been able to balance this opportunity cost of early and strenuous Saturday morning service with the intrinsic benefits of helping others, community service hours and either free or cheap lunch. After attending his third LEAP service day, sophomore resident assistant David Michaeli raved about the experiences and plans to do many more.
“I do it because I love to see the final outcome and the people’s reactions when they see how much positive change we’ve helped bring to their lives,” said Michaeli.
After a year, LEAP has passed the halfway mark. In the spring, several students key to LEAP’s success and progression in the Mercer-Macon community will be taking a class designed to brainstorm and plan solely for LEAP. There are quite a few younger Mercerians that have begun to take charge at service events, using their individual talents to lead from both the front and the back.
Lyndssey Autrey, a sophomore Mercer Service Scholar, has run an event at several service days this semester alone.
When asked why she adds in the extra leadership and logistical work, she said, “I just really enjoy it. Also, I want to help other students at Mercer develop that passion and love for serving that I have been blessed with.”
LEAP will continue in the spring with several more service days, festivals, and intensive projects that will provide opportunities for people all over campus to get involved in an activity they feel the most interested in.

Mercer on Mission to offer new destinations, opportunities for all

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Published Nov 2, in Campus, News

Ever dreamed of enjoying a beautiful sunset at Lake Atitlan while ordering your dinner in Spanish? How about getting to see the Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa?
This summer students will have a chance at that and more. Mercer on Mission is hosting six trips to different corners of the world.
Global health or finance students have the opportunity to go to Vadodara, India to be a part of their global health and microfinance program. Hosted by Dr. Monika Sawhney and Dr. Anitha Manohar, courses include special topics in community development and micro-finance. Students will also be able to directly participate through group projects.
In Cambodia those who travel as a part of Mercer on Mission will be able to work with several Non-Governmental Organizations working in rural areas in the poorest country in Southeast Asia. Students will be a part of a team consisting of medical, pharmacy, nursing and undergraduate students led by faculty of each discipline.
By traveling through Mercer on Mission, students are able to travel to rural locations as well as historic and cultural sites.
The mission is to learn and develop medical skills while helping the locals. Students will learn about the impact that economics, government policies and religion plays in health care. Courses include Health Systems and Policy as well as Global Health.
In Cape Town, South Africa  those who travel will learn about the, “turbulent history of apartheid…think of context or the big picture, learn about the history of South Africa and the place of victims in South Africa such as women,” said Dr. Eimad Houry, professor of Political Science.
Those who participate will get to visit Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela was held during the times of apartheid. Courses include the politics of developing countries as well as the literature of protest.
Dr. Houry and Dr. Mary Alice Morgan, professor and senior  vice president for Service Learning, will be leading the trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Students will help write and produce a play that will be performed by local high school students.
Other countries available through Mercer of Mission trips include Kenya, Tanzania and Brazil. Mercer on Mission have traveled to some of these countries in the past with many of the faculty leading past trips.
Dr. Ha Van Vo, associate profesor, led a Vietnam trip in the past.
Dr. Vo has successfully engineered, patented and manufactured about 80 new prosthetics.
On this specific Mercer on Mission trip, students will be able to help a team administer the prosthetics to those in need in Vietnam. This gives participants an opportunity to do charity work and volunteer in hospitals.
Whether you are an engineering student, a medical student or are in the college of liberal arts you will have an opportunity to make an impact in the developing world.
A few tips for those interested. Do not use Firefox because, according to the faculty, there is a glitch that might result in your application never making it.
There is a $500 non-refundable deposit that goes towards the tuition payment. If your application is approved, you will be instructed to pay the fee upon acceptance into the program.
Get your passports and visas early and do not forget about vaccinations.
Dec. 15 is the deadline for applications for those interested in traveling. Contact Craig McMahan, university minister and dean of chapel with questions or  for more information, including costs, visit www.mercer.edu/mom.

Over 200 students volunteer to ‘Be a Good Neighbear’

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Published Sep 21, in Campus, News

This past Saturday, Mercer’s LEAP (Local Engagement Against Poverty) initiative hosted the annual ‘Super Service Saturday: Be a Good Neighbear’ event across the surrounding community in an effort to actively reduce poverty and strengthen the relationship between Mercer students and the surrounding community. That morning, about 200 volunteers arrived in the Historic Quad of Mercer’s North Campus. After a eating a small breakfast of doughnuts and reciting a common prayer, the students were divvied up into several color-coded teams. The teams then traveled by trolley, car, and foot to predetermined locations around Macon where they picked up trash, painted a house, spread mulch, and leveled foundations for houses under construction.
Be a Good Neighbear originally started as a small-scale trash pick-up in public areas around Macon and Mercer’s campus but grew in scale over the years to take advantage of larger crowds of volunteers. The Pink team traveled across town to a neighborhood currently under development by the Macon Area Habitat for Humanity. Once on the property, the group of ten students were distributed shovels, hard rakes, gloves, and wheel barrows and were directed by Volunteer Coordinator Monty Cheshire in leveling the dirt floor in the crawlspace of a house still under construction. Cheshire, a former industrial engineer, turned Papa John’s Franchisee, turned philanthropist has worked with Habitat for Humanity for three years.
“This whole neighborhood needs help,” said Cheshire, referring to the ongoing efforts. The volunteers also worked to remove scrap concrete and trash from the lot. After two hours of leveling, a portion of the students went down the street to a completed Habitat house, occupied by Wendy Orellana and her three children. There, the students to spread mulch around the yard’s flower beds and briefly talked to one of Orellana’s children. Cheshire later commented that the volunteers from Mercer did several days worth of work within four hours.
During initial construction, vandalism of Habitat houses was common, but as time passed, the homeowners in the Orellana’s neighborhood began turning in vandals and looters. “We are revitalizing the neighborhood,” said Cheshire; “it’s safe now.” The Macon Area Habitat for Humanity plans to construct 46 new homes with a minimum of four houses under construction at any one time. Orellana’s house was house 26 and will be dedicated on October 3rd.
Across town, nearly 50 student volunteers laid ladders against the walls of an old three-story house and gave it a fresh coat of paint. “It’s nice to know student in such prominent fields [of study] are humble enough to do something like this,” said Mercer graduate student Tammy Hotchkiss. The owner of the house, Mr. Jimmie, and his recently deceased wife, have raised nearly two dozen foster children to adulthood since buying the house in 1970. Mr. Jimmie recently tried to have his house repainted in 2003, but the contractor took the down payment and left the job unfinished.“It’s nice to give back to people who deserve so much more,” said freshman Aaron Brantley when asked about his role in painting the house.
“Of course, we can’t change all of Macon by painting a house, but in a small way we are making a difference,” said freshman Amanda Pugsley.

Students gather for September 11 memorial service, flag-raising

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Published Sep 21, in Campus, News

 

Mercer students gathered on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks to honor those who lost lives or loved ones.
Alpha Phi Omega partnered with Campus Life and the Religious Life center to put together the ceremony. The memorial service began in Newton Chapel and finished with a candlelight vigil and flag-raising.
SGA President Jordan Locke opened the service, sharing Jesse Mercer’s words: “Divided, strength is weak, but united, strength is powerful.”
Shé Farquharson of Alpha Phi Omega shared a poem titled “One” by Cheryl Sawyer; Mercer Veterans Association’s president Gene Mitchell read two passages of the Bible and Stephen Boyer and Tionna Crawford performed “Let there be Peace.”
Maaz Sheikh of the Muslim Student Association read a passage from the Qur’an. Craig McMahan, University Minister and Dean of Chapel, said the reading was a good way to foster understanding between religious groups on campus. “Terrorists should not be the measure by which we judge all Muslims,” McMahan said.
McMahan also shared a message to conclude the chapel service. “Tonight I stand here in this safe place, this sanctuary, and I wonder how you and I will construct our own memorials,” he said. He focused on positive aspects: “What will the memorial for September 11 be?” McMahan asked. “Will it be hatred; will it be fear; will it be suspicion; will it be sorrow; will it be grief? Or will it be light … the light of sacrifice for others?”
“God help us, the God of us all help us … to honor those who have given their lives … by carrying on their lights,” he said.
Attendees of the service then proceeded in silence to the flagpole between Connell and Roberts Hall to hold a candlelight vigil during which “Amazing Grace” was sung and “God Bless America” was played on the bagpipes. The service concluded with a prayer led by McMahan.
Mitchell, who is a veteran of the Iraq War, said the service was important because 9/11 is something that all Americans identify with. “As an American who lived and experienced that, the least I can do is remember those who gave and lost their lives as a result of that day,” he said.
The service also honored the service men and women who died while rescuing people from the towers.
According to McMahan, APO students took leadership on the project.
“Although 9/11 was a tragic event and will never be forgotten, it was also a moment in history in which everyone came together and supported one another,” said Maya Robinson, president of APO. “We wanted to re-establish this support system and bond on campus by bringing Mercer students, faculty, and the Macon community together. Therefore, helping with the 9/11 Memorial enable us to honor the lives lost through unification and show that as Americans we can move on from the past and start building towards a brighter future one step at a time.”
McMahan emphasized that this service was important because Americans are now at a critical point of determining how we are going to move on from the tragedy. “I think it’s very important, as we remember what happened, to not be given over to the grief and pain and sadness,” he said.
“Now should be a time for remembering what was good about that day – that it gave ordinary Americans the chance to act in extraordinary ways, McMahan said. “The most fitting memorial is to live into and live up to the kind of sacrifices that were made.”