When students get involved in extracurricular activities, they are able to make connections with other students and the community. Through these experiences, they can improve their leadership and job skills, make lifelong friends, learn about the world, and give back to others.
At The Ohio State University at Mansfield, students have the chance to take part in service projects, leadership building activities, and other programs and events outside of the classroom. The OSU Mansfield Student Life Support Fund helps to finance these programs and provide aid to struggling students throughout the year. The fund supports various aspects of the student experience, including the annual Team Up to Clean Up event, Camp Hetuck and the Buckeye Food Pantry.
Team up to Clean Up
In 2019, early childhood education major Joshua Davis started the Team Up to Clean Up initiative on campus, and it is quickly becoming an annual tradition. Student organizations, faculty, and staff gather one afternoon in April to clean the area between campus and Walker Lake Road. During this project, students get a firsthand look at the effects of littering on the environment and work as a team to improve our city’s green space. See photo above
Camp Hetuck
Each summer, incoming freshmen have a chance to enroll in Camp Hetuck to work on their leadership skills and build bonds with other students and the community. “Hetuck” is a Native American word for “buckeye,” and campers truly feel like Buckeyes by the end of the program. During this two-day camp, students take part in team building and leadership activities and learn what the city of Mansfield and the surrounding community have to offer.
Buckeye Food Pantry
Located in Ovalwood Hall, the Buckeye Food Pantry provides access to nutritious food and personal items for students in need. This has been an important resource on campus as more students find themselves in tough financial situations. Having a food pantry on campus removes unnecessary stress in students’ lives so they can focus on their studies.
Student life programs help students stay enrolled and succeed
Student life programs such as these are essential for helping students to create connections on and off campus and to succeed in their studies. A 2016 Ohio State survey found that 75 percent of involved students felt more connected to the university and a greater sense of community. Involvement also made them feel more confident and helped them learn their own strengths and abilities. By offering student life and support programs such as the Buckeye Food Pantry, students will have greater opportunities to achieve their dreams.
OSUM asks that you consider helping to provide these opportunities and programs by contributing to the OSU Mansfield Student Life Support Fund. An online giving portal can be accessed here.
Source, Photos: The Ohio State University at Mansfield
