University Scholar Ambassadors start community service projects in Alva
By KAYLEE JO NEELEY, Student Reporter
Students in the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors program are leading service projects throughout the community and around the university’s campus.
Ethan Sacket, who oversees the organization as the university’s student success coordinator, said the prompt for these projects is based on how a person can serve others.
“This is really just an opportunity for our kids to give back to the community,” Sacket said. “We each have a certain amount of time here on Earth, and if we can give a little bit of that time to helping others, I think that’s how we should live.”
Many students are participating in fundraisers on the Northwestern campus, while others are lending a hand to the Alva community, Sacket said. Two projects have been finished, with 19 more scheduled for the semester.
Carli Seabolt, a sophomore from Perry, is planning a masquerade ball to raise funds for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.
“My main goal for this project is to raise money for this organization, but also give students a chance to dress up and have fun – especially for the students who didn’t get a senior prom because of COVID,” Seabolt said.
She plans to host the formal Oct. 22 from 9 p.m. to midnight in the Student Center Ballroom. Seabolt said most of her decorations will be leftovers from other formals and dances the university has hosted.
Rosco Setzer, a sophomore from Chelsea, has been planning a classroom project for students at elementary schools in Alva.
“I will be going to first-, second- and third-graders here in Alva and teaching them about growing sunflowers,” Setzer said. “My idea is to get little cups and fill them with soil so the students can plant their own sunflower seeds.”
Setzer also plans to read a book about sunflowers to the children while they plant sunflower seeds. He said he is looking forward to making memories with the students and seeing them get excited.
Sacket said the projects are rewarding both for the students who complete them and the people who benefit from them.
“I believe these projects will help a wide variety of people, from college kids to elementary students to community members,” Sacket said. “We even have some students who are going to reach out to alumni, which is important so we can help as many as we can in the community in a wide variety of ways.”