Findlay, Ohio, Aug. 19, 2002 — The University of Findlay will host its first-ever New Student Orientation Service Initiative on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002.

In a groundbreaking attempt to promote the importance of volunteerism and service, more than 750 members of the University community, including more than 700 first-year students, will go into the Findlay community to provide hands-on help to non-profit, civic and government organizations.

Led by first-year seminar instructors, orientation leaders and resident assistants, first-year students will perform three hours of service during orientation weekend before their first day of classes at UF on Aug. 26.

Projects include: building the disc golf course at Riverbend Park, helping Campfire USA run the Findlay Commons Youth Carnival, visiting with Winebrenner Village and Judson Palmer Home residents and performing general clean-up and maintenance projects at several local agencies. Many seminars will be doing service projects that relate directly to their class topics, including a computer seminar that will prepare a multi-media presentation for the local Sept. 11 remembrance, equestrian and pre-vet seminars that will work at the Humane Society and two environmental seminars that will participate in the Howard Run River clean-up.

This service initiative is designed to introduce students to different aspects of the Findlay community as well as introduce community organizations to new UF students. One of the goals of the service initiative is to provide the students with a model for future pursuit of service as they embark on their collegiate careers at The University of Findlay. As students and faculty help build the community around the University, they will also get to know each other better before the school year begins.

The University of Findlay strives to make service learning and community service an integral part of the lives of students, faculty and staff. UF is a member of the Ohio Campus Compact, a statewide chapter of a national organization that promotes community service and civic engagement among college communities.

The Aug. 24 service projects have been coordinated by Wayne Sneath, director of Campus Compact at UF, and Diana Montague, director of UF’s first-year seminar program.