N.C. Central News Service

DURHAM -- An estimated 1,500 volunteers, including more than 500 students, several academic departments and programs, local nonprofits, and a Girl Scout troop, joined N.C. Central University on Sept. 12 to clean up areas in and around the campus along Fayetteville Street.

"The event was well-organized with maps, zones, and color-coded wrist bands for each participant," said Starla Huggins, director of government and community relations. "We also had safety vests, gloves, trash bags, litter pickers and pails."

Keep Durham Beautiful and the City of Durham furnished supplies, providing five large garbage trucks and two recycling trucks. Several city leaders attended, including Mayor Bill Bell, state Rep. Larry Hall, D-Durham, and state Sen. Bob Atwater, D-Durham, Chatham and Lee, City Council members, county commissioners and school board members.

"Our evaluations tell us that this event means more to students than just a way to fullfill the NCCU service requirement," said Deborah Bailey, director of academic community service learning program. "Students enjoyed the day, the camraderie, knowing that something they did made a significant difference to those living around them."

Kristopher Swinton, member of Phi Beta Lambda, said "I wanted to make sure I gave back to the community."

N.C. Central was the first publicly supported liberal arts college for African-Americans and this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked NCCU among the top ten Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the country. As NCCU celebrates its Centennial Year, a diverse student body of more than 8,500 students is enrolled in programs such as law, business, library science, nursing, education and biotechnology.