September 23, 2009 – News & Views

Ohio Wesleyan to Host Circle K International’s Ohio District Service Project
OWU’s active student chapter ranks as one of the state’s largest

Image courtesy of Kiwanis International

Ohio Wesleyan was asked by district leaders to host this year’s event. With about 40 dues-paying members and lots of other volunteers, OWU’s Circle K chapter is one of the largest in the state, says Kelly Haines ’10, event co-chair.

“We’re a very service-oriented campus,” says Haines, a microbiology major from Grove City, Ohio. “We have a combo plate of opportunities for students who want to get involved.” Haines also is earning minors in zoology and sociology-anthropology. After graduation, she anticipates attending graduate school to earn her doctorate in microbiology.

While in Delaware, the statewide Circle K members will participate in at least a dozen community service projects. Their efforts will help organizations including the Common Ground Free Store (which provides clothing and other items at no cost to needy families), OWU’s Early Childhood Education Center, the Delaware County Humane Society, the Delaware General Health District’s Keep Delaware County Beautiful efforts, and more.

Lizzie Powers ’10, who also is serving as an event co-chair, says Circle K members will split into groups to complete several projects in the morning. After eating lunch at Ohio Wesleyan, the students will split into new groups to complete afternoon projects.

“As part of their registration, students were asked to indicate what types of projects they preferred,” says Powers, an international studies major from Painesville, Ohio, “such as do they like to work indoors or outdoors, or with children or animals. Then we tried to match their wishes with the projects.” Powers also is earning minors in history, Latin American studies, and Spanish. After graduation, she plans to obtain a teaching certificate and teach English to speakers of other languages.

Both Powers and Haines joined OWU’s Circle K club during their sophomore year. They say they are proud of the club’s accomplishments, which have included participating in the Scioto River Sweep to remove debris from the local waterway, collecting books for Africa, and cooking for sick children and families at the Ronald McDonald House near Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.

In addition to student dues, OWU’s Circle K club also raises funds for its outreach by delivering food from Welch Hall’s Trattoria Pizza restaurant and by working with local Kiwanis International club members to operate concession stands at Battling Bishop football games as well as to sell tickets at the Delaware County Fair. The Circle K club also receives support from the Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs (WSCA.)

For more information about OWU’s Circle K club, visit service.owu.edu/organizations.html.

– Cole Hatcher