West Virginia University is getting engaged.

During the Week of Engagement April 17-23, students, faculty and staff members will be cooking, cleaning, repairing and working hard to help others.

“This week is about more than a few days of community service, it is about a life-long commitment to helping others,” said Kimberly Colebank, director of WVU’s Center for Civic Engagement, which is sponsoring the week. “And, our students have shown time and time again that they are committed to this cause.”

The week will include The Challenge, where student organizations will be competing to see who can complete the most community service in a week. Organizations can pre-register online at http://cce.wvu.edu/woechallenge .

Past winners include the Student Health Advisory Board, Beta Theta Pi and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

The week will begin with several ENGAGE service projects on Saturday, April 17. The projects include spring cleaning at Morning Glory Ministries, assisting with registration at Morgantown’s Chocolate Lovers Day and rail trail cleanup.

Information on these and the other service projects planned throughout the week is available at http://cce.wvu.edu/woeprojects.

A kick-off event and Community Partner Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 19 at the Mountainlair. WVU’s Center for Civic Engagement staff will be handing out free cotton candy and other giveaways to students. Students can also learn about the various community organizations and sign up to participate in the service projects during this time.

On Tuesday, April 20, everyone is welcome to help save a life at the American Red Cross blood drive from 1-7 p.m. in Stalnaker Hall.

A Get Engaged booth will be set up in the Mountainlair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. Center for Civic Engagement staff members will be on hand to answer questions, hand out giveaways and help with service needs.

The week will wrap up with a thank you celebration for everyone who participated in service projects during the week and throughout the year. Engage-a-Palooza will be held from 12-4 p.m. on the Mountainlair plaza. The event will be complete with free food, giveaways, inflatable games and live entertainment.

The week is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association, WVU’s WE CAN recycling program, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, WVU Student Affairs and Coca-Cola.

For more information and a complete schedule of service projects, visit http://cce.wvu.edu/woe .

-WVU-

cd/04/13/10

CONTACT: Brett White, Center for Civic Engagement
304-293-8761, Brett.White@mail.wvu.edu