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<\/a>When Colorado College\u2019s Greek life leaders approached me about potentially organizing a service project, I immediately said yes. The project began to take form as we decided to concentrate our efforts in a neighborhood park within walking distance of the college. The students contacted Steve Wood \u201984<\/strong> who owns an innovative nonprofit organization that supports collaborative public art projects, and together they began to develop a project that would be both meaningful and have a lasting impact on the neighborhood. Meanwhile, I asked the student leaders to think of ways to involve our entire campus community in the event.<\/p>\nBecause the park was close to campus, the student leaders decided we should meet on the quad and walk over to the project site as a group. The walk set the tone for the entire project, as together, on a glorious early fall afternoon, approximately 200 CC students, faculty, staff, trustees, and alumni worked alongside neighboring community members on an array of park maintenance projects.<\/p>\n
We sanded weathered picnic tables and benches, cleaned and painted a playground area, removed excess vegetation along a stream, and brightened the entire area by painting a series of murals throughout the park.<\/p>\n
The event was rewarding on so many levels. The Greek life community sought \u2014 and found \u2014 a way to show that contrary to so many perceptions, leadership, service, and giving back to the community are essential to their philosophy. I also was astounded by how the afternoon brought our campus community together. The community service project reflects a core CC value: All our incoming students participate in some type of service project as part of their New Student Orientation. Additionally, more than 80 percent of Colorado College students participate in service projects sometime during their college career.<\/p>\n
The project also served as a way to unite the campus and local community. Neighbors in the area walked across the bridge where a Colorado College group was working and expressed their appreciation. A retiree who lives adjacent to the park and runs a community agro-forestry project complimented the CC students on their industriousness and commitment, and later got in touch with the college\u2019s Collaborative for Community Engagement to pursue further projects with our students.<\/p>\n
Two neighbors who lived nearby mentioned that the creek is \u201cdead\u201d \u2014 there are no fish, water skimmers or other life in it. With the college\u2019s strength in biology and environmental programs, this opens a world of possible service projects, providing additional opportunities to apply CC\u2019s considerable academic strengths for tangible community gain.<\/p>\n
I firmly believe that part of my duty as president of Colorado College is to ensure that the college helps support and strengthen the local community. A strong local community benefits Colorado College, and vice-versa. In that regard, the role of a president has a lot in common with being a gardener. The seeds already have been planted. My job as president, like a gardener, is to nurture what is growing strong around me.<\/p>\n
Jill M. Tiefenthaler was\u00a0inaugurated as Colorado College\u2019s\u00a013th president on\u00a0September 22, 2012, at\u00a0Shove Memorial Chapel.\u00a0Events throughout the weekend\u00a0marked the occasion, including\u00a0musical, dance, and theater\u00a0performances, a lacrosse\u00a0scrimmage, and a ball, but<\/em>
\n perhaps the defining event was\u00a0a community service project.\u00a0President Tiefenthaler writes<\/em>
\n about the experience here.\u00a0This essay originally appeared\u00a0October 24, 2012 on the\u00a0Huffington Post.<\/em><\/p>\n