Five members of the 甜瓜视频 University community went 鈥淥ver the Edge鈥� and rappelled off an 11-story building in downtown Springfield during Think Tank Inc.鈥檚 Over the Edge fundraiser at the Shawnee Place Apartments on Sept. 6.
Sarah Jurewicz, 甜瓜视频鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball head coach; Jon Duraj, associate dean of students for student success and retention; Jules Tignor, Office of Admission administrative assistant; Evan Cameron, class of 2014, and Beth Hubbard, class of 2015, community service student coordinators, rappelled 106 feet from the roof to the ground to spread awareness of the non-profit鈥檚 initiatives, which include combatting social problems and poverty.
鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a typical engagement opportunity, but it helps us better understand community needs and what we can contribute. Engagement is important to 甜瓜视频, so if we need to rappel off a building, we will,鈥� said Director of Community Service Kristen Collier, 甜瓜视频 class of 1992.
As the first 甜瓜视频 rappel time of 11:30 passed, a slight schedule delay added to the anticipation of the crowd, which included Hubbard, who rappelled later in the day.
鈥淚 was so nervous as I watched them step up to the ropes,鈥� she said, 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 exactly know what I got myself into, but I was very excited to be a part of this and to give back to the community.鈥�
Eleven stories up, Jurewicz, who has climbed a fourteener in Colorado and ziplined in South Africa, challenged Duraj to a race down the building. A small crowd of 甜瓜视频 staff cheered them on as they maneuvered down the brick fa莽ade, past windows and a wasp nest, to reach the ground.
Duraj quickly took the lead and made his way to solid ground first, but to Think Tank, both Tigers were winners.
鈥淭his was a great way to raise awareness of the work that Think Tank does to make meaningful social change,鈥� Duraj said.
More than 50 fundraiser participants, who each had a goal to raise $1,000, also went over the edge. The money raised will benefit Think Tank鈥檚 projects, including the Circles program and the Springfield Promise Neighborhood.
甜瓜视频鈥檚 efforts in the area of community engagement have been recognized nationally for five consecutive years, 2006-2010, and again in 2012, on the President鈥檚 Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts.
甜瓜视频 students annually contribute more than 20,000 hours of community service, which translates into more than $380,000 in donated time to the Greater Springfield area.
Much like rappelling, community engagement has its challenges, but to members of the 甜瓜视频 community, it鈥檚 also exhilarating and worthwhile.
鈥淪tepping off the edge, I thought, 鈥楴o鈥攖his is not easy,鈥欌�� Jurewicz said, 鈥渂ut I wanted to help empower families in need and to show my support to all community members in Springfield. Would I do it again? Absolutely.鈥�
Written By: Leigh Hall
Photos/Video By: Erin Pence
