By Amanda Wilson
AVP, Student and Alumni Affairs
On Tuesday, September 14, our chapter of the West Virginia Students’ Alliance (WVSA) will sponsor and participate in a National Day of Service and Remembrance event in Charles Town, West Virginia. This event will be held in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of America.
The 9/11 Connection with This Gardening Project
The National Day of Service and Remembrance project calls upon local communities to promote acts of kindness, compassion and service to educate the next generation about 9/11. This event is especially meaningful this year, because it is the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Patriot Day on Saturday, September 11 honors the first responders, public servants and the lives of nearly 3,000 other victims lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Together, local students, alumni, university faculty, and staff members will participate in a grounds restoration and gardening project at the Boys and Girls Club facility, near the University’s Finance Building. The project’s goals are to restore old, outdated playground equipment/benches and to revitalize the Boys and Girls Club outdoor spaces to include blacktops, walkways, and gardens.
WVSA Chapter Officer and local student Miles Kushnereit says, “The National Day of Service and Remembrance is not only a great day to give back, but also to come together as a community to make the areas we live and work in better. Organizations like the Boys and Girls Club bring new opportunities and benefits to young people, and support their development and goals. I’m proud that my University is involved in the community, and that I get to be part of making a difference!”
The West Virginia Student Alliance
WVSA is one of more than 70 student organizations at the University. Each has its own mission based on leadership, service and community engagement. Our student organizations follow the University’s Chapter Standards Program, which recognizes the National Day of Service and Remembrance as a sponsored event.
Established four years ago, WVSA brings recognition to various issues facing the state of West Virginia, and gives members the chance to work on projects that make a difference. Current projects include a Little Free Library project to support literacy and provide access to free reading materials; the promotion of local job fairs and employment opportunities; and a community sponsorship with the Boys and Girls Club of America to help clean/build spaces for youth development. WVSA members consist of current students, alumni, faculty and university staff.
Members of the university community and friends can get involved in this National Day of Service and Remembrance gardening project by contacting the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs at studentaffairs@apus.edu. Also, please consider sharing your own acts of service by using #APUSGivesBack on your social media channels.
About the Author
Amanda Wilson joined the University in 2008, after four years teaching and coaching in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Amanda serves as the Associate Vice President of Student and Alumni Affairs, developing and expanding co-curricular programming and engagement opportunities for students and alumni primarily at a distance.
Throughout her tenure, Amanda has developed the strategy and laid the groundwork for a variety of programs to include mentoring, student organizations, virtual communities, and campus leadership initiatives. Amanda is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Organizational Leadership from Walden University. She holds a master’s degree in business from American Public University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Radford University. Amanda is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and a member and Chapter Advisor for the West Virginia Students’ Alliance.
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