UMW Students Turn Out to Help Community

Hundreds of University of Mary Washington students spent a recent Saturday in local neighborhoods as part of the university’s Good Neighbor Day. The more than 250 students, representing numerous campus groups and sports teams, completed 20 projects in the neighborhoods surrounding UMW, totaling more than 1,000 hours of community service. Click here to view the embedded video. The students, joined by President Richard V. Hurley and faculty and staff members, helped with yard work and landscaping projects, organized garages and sheds and cleaned trash from local trails. An effort of UMW’s Student Government Association, Good Neighbor Day gave students an opportunity to interact with their Fredericksburg neighbors. “A lot of students said it was very cool to participate in something so large,” said Jeremy Thompson, president of SGA. “They were hoping they can make a positive impact in the community.” Kagan McSpadden, director of community outreach for SGA, was ecstatic over the success of the effort. “Everyone was so supportive and appreciative,” she said. “We had a huge outpouring from the community.”