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RELEASED: Nov. 6, 2003
DANVILLE, KY—Lindsey Stewart, a senior from Lexington, Ky., has been named Centre's October Volunteer of the Month for the time and energy she devotes to a number of philanthropic projects. (Caution: you may become exhausted just reading this.)
Trick-or-Treat
Stewart organized this year's campus trick-or-treat and carnival held Oct. 30. More than 80 children of faculty and staff were led by student volunteers through residence halls to collect Halloween treats from students. Even President and Mrs. Roush joined in the fun, inviting the little ones to Craik House for goodies.
Afterward, more volunteers provided games and fun at the Combs Student Center.
"It was a lot of work," Stewart said, "but I love kids, so it was fun."
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Stewart is about to celebrate her first anniversary as a Big Sister to a local 10-year-old.
"She's the most wonderful thing in the world," Stewart said. They swim, watch movies, go to restaurants, and Stewart calls being a Big Sister "the most personally rewarding thing I do."
Volunteer Recruitment Chair for Up-'Til-Dawn
Up-'Til-Dawn is a year-long fund-raiser benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As recruitment chair, Stewart is responsible for encouraging participation in the fund-raiser and organizing a letter-writing campaign soliciting donations to St. Jude. St. Jude is also her sorority's (Delta Delta Delta) primary charity.
Angel Tree
Next up on Stewart's service calendar is organizing the annual Angel Tree program. Individuals or groups can select a local child who might not otherwise have a Christmas and provide them with gifts of toys and clothes. While the local Salvation Army will provide the list of children, Stewart will arrange for the "angels" to be available to the campus community, promote participation, and see to the pick up and delivery of gifts.
"True Beauty"
Last, but not least, is a program for 4th- and 5th-grade girls that Stewart created called "True Beauty." Once a week she meets girls from Junction City Elementary to help them explore the development of inner beauty.
"What we're trying to teach the girls is that true beauty means to have a giving heart," Stewart said. "If you're a good person. it's more important than your appearance or the clothes you wear."
After graduation Stewart, a psychology major, plans to attend graduate school in clinical psychology, but first she hopes to travel in Europe, and perhaps do an internship. But there's little doubt that whatever path her life takes, community service will continue to be a big part of it.
"Service to others is what we're put on this earth for," Stewart said.
The volunteer award program at Centre recognizes some of the many students who provide service to the local community. Each year, around 60 percent of all Centre students become community volunteers. The College encourages volunteer service with a community service day each year as part of the orientation for first-year students. For more information, contact Trina McFarland, assistant director of student life for service and leadership development, at (859s) 238-5479 or e-mail mcfarlnd@centre.edu.
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