FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/13/2008

Bridgewater Students To Perform Community Service

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Some 544 new students at Bridgewater College will fan out into the Bridgewater-Harrisonburg area on Thursday, Oct. 16, to perform a day of service-learning for 26 public and charitable agencies.

The "Into the Streets" program is part of the college's service-learning requirement, and marks the fourth year that Bridgewater College has required new students to perform charitable service as part of the orientation process. All students are required to perform 10 hours of service over the course of a year.

Bill Miracle, dean of students, said "Into the Streets" springs from Bridgewater's institutional mission and focuses on making students aware that service to humanity is part of being a citizen. It is, he said, an important part of the educational process.

"There's a difference between community service and service-learning," said Miracle. "You can rake leaves and perform community service, but service-learning requires the kind of personal contribution that fosters reflection on what you've done, how it has changed you and what it means to the community."

Agencies the Bridgewater College students will assist on Thursday include Habitat for Humanity, Mercy House, Salvation Army, local schools and camps, Bridgewater Rescue Squad, the Volunteer Farm in Woodstock, and many others. 

This service project will help introduce new students to the local community, allow them to make connections with their classmates, and illustrate the importance of service-learning at BC.

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