LR – Mirycal Thurmon, Sequoia Brunt and Shantel Dennis reading Halloween stories to students at McKissack Middle School. (photo by John Cross, TSU Media Relations)
NASHVILLE (TSU News Service) – The creed, “Think, Work, Serve” is not just a saying at TSU. It actually means getting your hands dirty sometimes, heavy lifting or just reaching out to put a smile on someone’s face.
Just ask a group of students from the Service to Leadership class, who instead of resting after a long day of school work on Tuesday, joined their professors to conduct various fun and literacy programs for children at Preston-Taylor Boys & Girls Club at McKissack Middle School.
“I could have been in my dorm resting or doing nothing, but look how happy these kids are just to see us involved with them,” said Maya Brooks, a freshman Nursing major from Atlanta, who participates in the annual Breast Cancer Walk, and helps at the Boys & Girls Club in her community when she is not in school. “I just like to see people happy.”
In a “Make a Difference Day” project, Brooks and nearly 60 of her Service to Leadership classmates, including members of Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi, engaged the children in reading exercises, story telling, face painting, ring toss and a basketball clinic.
“We encourage our students to be more involved in the community as part of their class work, and coming out to provide fun and activities for these children is a very productive way for students to use their time,” said Dr. D. Lee McGahey, Coordinator of Tiger Alert, a student success program, and instructor of the Service to Leadership course. “This fits into our motto of ‘Think, Work, Serve,’ because it engages our students and helps the community.”
Officials of the Boys & Girls Club lauded the partnership with TSU in supporting efforts that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls.
“We are just delighted to see these Tennessee Sate University students interacting with these children and helping us to instill a sense of competence, belonging and influence in the children,” said Rena Knight, Director of the Preston-Taylor Boys & Girls Club. “This is a way for young people to come together and give back.”
Learn more about TSU’s Service to Leadership course at http://www.tnstate.edu/servicelearning/freshmen%20orientation.aspx
Department of Media Relations
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With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the county by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.
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