Incoming students serve community during Welcome Week

Incoming Abilene Christian University freshman and transfer students will hit the streets of Abilene Aug. 23 for an afternoon of service during Welcome Week, a weeklong camp to welcome new students to ACU.

One group of students, led by Pebbles Lee, lab coordinator and U100 instructor at ACU, will paint the bridge located at E.N. 16th Street and College Drive. The students will spend the afternoon painting the bridge with supplies provided by the city.

"The city is furnishing the paint and brushes and even traffic directors," said Lee. "We are supplying students to hand paint that bridge."

According to Eric Gumm, assistant director of the First Year Program, the bridge is not the only area that will receive much needed attention by ACU students. Other Welcome Week participants will canvas northside neighborhoods picking up trash and asking for prayer requests, as well as helping neighbors with other odd jobs.

"ACU's mission focuses on educating students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world, and we want to start students off with that in mind," said Gumm. "The service project and reaching out to our neighbors is an important part of showing our new students what ACU is all about. We have a great time serving together and developing habits that will continue throughout a lifetime."

Service projects are just one part of the week to help transition students into the newest chapter of their lives.

"We have spent the last eight months preparing for this week, and have more than 220 student volunteer leaders to help welcome these new students," said Gumm. "We have planned a variety of activities to help prepare students academically, socially and spiritually for a successful first year."

If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office or call (325) 674-2696.