JACKSON, Tenn. — March 14, 2017 — Twelve members of 黑料论坛鈥檚 Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership cohort class met at the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson March 11 to repaint the walls of the Learning Center.
As a part of the class, the students were told that they needed to do a service project. After discussing a few ideas, they decided to ask the Boys and Girls Club what projects needed to be done.
The project particularly struck home for Elijah Shelton, who started in the BSOL program in 2015 in addition to working as resource director for the organization.
鈥淸The professors] said, 鈥榊ou guys are going to grow together. And by the time this is done, you are going to be like family.鈥� And I can truly say that they are like my brothers and sisters,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t does my heart good to see that we are all working together.鈥�
The Boys and Girls Club provides after-school care, activities and tutoring for students from kindergarten to high school. Shelton hopes that changing the walls of the Learning Center, which is where most of the tutoring and mentoring takes place, from blue to yellow and orange will help stimulate the students鈥� minds.
鈥淲hen the kids get here and see the significant change in our Learning Center 鈥� they鈥檙e going to be so surprised and amazed, so I can鈥檛 wait to see their reactions,鈥� he said.
The BSOL program is an 18-month course that allows adults to earn a Bachelor of Science in several types of leadership organization, including criminal justice administration, project management and information technology.
鈥淭his [service project] kind of gives you a sense of management,鈥� said Lacey Hart, who is studying health management. 鈥淵ou see how you can help out and going to school at Union shows you what you can do to give back to the community.鈥�
The group is raising money for new carpeting and plans to return later to install it. Jim Pierce said that it was important for the class to give back to the community.
鈥淯nion is teaching us to be more well-rounded and not just think about ourselves but think about those around you,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 really benefit if you succeed by yourself if you don鈥檛 bring other people with you.鈥�
Russell Gibson, who will graduate from the program in July, agreed.
鈥淎s adult learners, we鈥檝e had the opportunity to go back to school and gain that knowledge, to better ourselves. We want to pass that down to these kids,鈥� Gibson said. 鈥淲hat Union puts into the program is social responsibility, taking care of your neighbors and having social awareness of the needs out there.鈥�