January 21, 2016
MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER: (1/19/16) - Classes might have been cancelled on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day but several East Texas Baptist University students chose to spend their day off serving the community in honor of the late civil rights leader.
"Today is a national day of service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.," ETBU's Director of the Great Commission Lisa Seeley said. "We had about 100 students, staff and faculty in 12 different locations serving today."
Seeley said the students and faculty came from multiple campus organizations including Student Government Association and sports teams.
"This is a good way to give back to the community that supports us," ETBU Graduate Assistant Maranda Westbrook said on Monday.
Seeley said the university encourages servant leadership in its students and staff.
"Servant leadership is one of the foundational ideas of ETBU," Seeley said. "We emphasize service throughout their time here and it's required in some degrees and classes."
The students worked along busy roadsides Monday to pick up litter while some helped with dirt work at the recently started Habitat for Humanity house on Summit Street.
"We serve throughout Harrison County and we offer mission opportunities around the world," Seeley said.
Some students on Monday helped clean out barns and clear wooded trails at the Day Spring Ranch Therapeutic Equestrian Center.
"The ranch provides therapy with horses for veterans, those with physical disabilities and those who are handicapped," she said.
The university has several more community service days coming up this spring including one on Feb. 20, the day after newly appointed ETBU President Blair Blackburn is to be inaugurated.
"We will also have one in April on our annual ETBU Cares Day," Seeley said. "And we will continue working on the Habitat for Humanity House."
(Used by permission www.marshallnewsmessenger.com, story by MNM reporter Bridget Ortigo)