Liberal Arts and Human Sciences staff association serves community in true Ut Prosim fashion
The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, generally known as home to 16 departments and 400 faculty members, also boasts an active and altruistic staff association of 128 members.
The Special Projects Committee in the College of Liberal Arts Staff Association, under the guidance of committee chair Dove Robertson, has dedicated itself to service in various ways over this academic year.
In September and October, the college organization sponsored both a coat drive and a food drive. In November, 83 coats were donated to the Montgomery County Christmas Store and over 100 food items were donated to the local food pantry.
“We were pleased with the tremendous response to these projects,” said Robertson. “The association continued in December with a “Shoeboxes for Soldiers” project, collecting enough items and money to send 26 shoeboxes to support troops serving our country overseas.”
The staff’s altruistic projects continued well beyond the cheer of the holiday season.
“In January, we received the local news regarding the two little boys from Floyd County who had cancer and were fighting for their lives,” said Robertson. “We realized that the families needed financial help as well as moral support, so once again, we started another project.” The total donated for the children was $900
“The staff members in this college truly exemplify the Ut Prosim spirit,” said Dean Jerry Niles. Ut Prosim, which translates to “that I may serve,” is the university motto. “They are generous and caring to both their own and the local community.”
Currently, the college’s Scholarship Committee has taken on the challenge of raising funds to award a scholarship to a student for the 2007-08 academic year. Contributions for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Staff Association Scholarship are being accepted until March 30, 2007. Checks should be made payable to College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Staff Association and sent to Kathy Hale, 215 East Eggleston Hall (0302), Blacksburg, VA 24061.
The scholarship application can be found online.
Past projects by the staff association have included walkathons, collections for the angel tree and the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley, and Pack the Bus (a project to assemble backpacks and school supplies for local school children in need).
At their March meeting, the staff association presented Niles with a Tuckwiller print in appreciation of his support.
