Freshmen plunge into repair affair

RELEASED: September 7, 2006

This is the first of a two-part series highlighting Centre's traditional service plunge

DANVILLE, KY—Centre's largest-ever freshman class came to campus eager to start a new chapter of their lives, and one way the College helps them dive into the collegiate waters is the Freshman Service Plunge.  For more than a dozen years, this group service project has been a way for new students to get to know each other, their community and other faculty and staff volunteers.

Some of the freshmen chose to participate in Repair Affair, a one-day event during which volunteers perform much-needed maintenance for elderly and disabled homeowners. It's funded by local donations and a grant from the Kentucky Housing Corporation. Students help with painting, cleaning, mowing and many other tasks.

Two orientation assistants, sophomores Aaron Pawley of Cecilia, Ky., and Bryce Meredith of Leitchfield, Ky., guided groups on their missions.

"Repair Affair provided a great service to local citizens," said Pawley, "and helped introduce the freshmen to what Centre is really about, which is hands-on learning inside and especially outside of the classroom."

"I had so much fun helping out at the Repair Affair," said Lindsey Lewis, a freshman from Frankfort, Ky.  "I had to lift a bunch of branches and logs and stuff, but it was so rewarding just to help the community by performing little tasks that the homeowners couldn't perform themselves."

"It was rewarding to work side-by-side with leaders of Danville in bringing assistance to a member of the community," said Scott Meltzer, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn.

"The Rotary Club of Danville thanks all the Centre students who assisted with the Repair Affair!" said Mark Dexter '72.  "They were very cheerful and diligent, and the homeowner so appreciated the helping hands!"

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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