University volunteer effort nets community partner award

A student volunteer venture to help veterans near Camp Lejeune this past fall recently earned the University the Outstanding Community Partner Award from the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP).

This past fall, eight students from the University College/College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Learning Community participated in a SERCAP Volunteers for Communities Alternative Break Program. The volunteers, all freshmen, were Jessica Beavers, Selena Brown, Alyssa Finkelstein, Benjamin Iuliano, Hannah Javidi, Madison McKinnon, Edwin Ogachi and Sarah Payne.

They assisted with a number of projects in Jacksonville, including painting and pressure washing the Disabled American Veterans building. Jacksonville is home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The students visited various veteran memorials and interacted with veterans throughout their visit. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9960 hosted the group.

Trip participant Ben Iuliano stated he was glad “our contributions helped UNC Charlotte win this award.” He added the experience was amazing, and there were many memorable parts, including “listening to the interesting stories from the veterans, the breathtaking memorial and painting/renovating the DAV headquarters with my new friends.”

Fellow volunteer Madison McKinnon said being able to participate in the fall trip “reminded me how much volunteering and giving back to the community can impact those around me. This service trip made me want to volunteer more often and become more involved in the community.”

Maureen Doran, assistant director of service learning in the University Advising Center, co-organized the trip with Sean Langley, assistant director of off-campus and volunteer outreach. She explained the project was developed as a Prospect for Success service-learning opportunity connected to the common reading book “The Yellow Birds.” Written by Iraq war veteran Kevin Powers, “The Yellow Birds” draws upon the author’s experiences as a machine gunner in Mosul and Tal Afar, Iraq, after enlisting in the U.S. Army at the age of 17.

According to SERCAP, UNC Charlotte’s effort was the first Volunteers for Communities (VCF) Alternative Break trip to focus exclusively on the veteran population. VCF helped University officials organize the trip to Jacksonville.

The Outstanding Community Partner Award will be presented formally during SERCAP’s Water Is Life Luncheon at the Sheraton Roanoke (Va.) Hotel and Conference Center on April 22.