Jessica Pridgen cleans up Recreation Park

UNC Asheville freshman Laura Francis, 18, of Cary, donned pink paisley rain boots, an orange safety vest and sturdy work gloves for class today. While hardly the typical attire of a college student, Francis was all set for a river cleanup project she and her classmates took on this morning.

Some 600 UNC Asheville freshmen fanned out into the city for the University’s 10th annual community service day. Students, faculty and staff racked up some 2,600 hours of service collecting trash along the Swannanoa River, spreading mulch at city parks and removing invasive plants at the city’s Public Works Facility.

Francis emerged from the Swannanoa River bank smudged with dirt carrying a bag filled with bottles, license plates and other debris. “Actually, I’m having a lot of fun,” she said. “Yes, we are picking up trash but it’s good for the environment and the city overall.”

Formerly known as Bulldog Day, UNC Asheville’s Active Citizenship Together (ACT) in Asheville Day brought together the University with the City of Asheville to tackle local revitalization and beautification projects.

George Martinat, 18, of Hickory, saw immediate results of the students’ hard work at Carrier Park. “I spent the morning cleaning up the playground. When we finished, I saw a little girl come to play and she looked so happy in the clean park,” Martinat said.

George Martinat and Ali Leonard spread mulch at Carrier Park

ACT in Asheville Day is organized by UNC Asheville’s Key Center for Community Citizenship and Service-Learning. The Key Center seeks to maximize the engagement of students with the community by encouraging students to undertake service projects, reflect on what they learn through service, and to draw connections between what they learn in the community and what they learn in the classroom.

Martinant realized those connections and appreciated the opportunity to join in so early in his college career. “It’s super cool that we’re doing this really ambitious work day,” he said. “It definitely teaches us where UNC Asheville stands with community service.”