Southwestern College freshmen participated in the annual Freshman Work Day event in Winfield on Sunday, Aug. 13.
“It is a great chance for our incoming freshman to connect to their new community which include their new classmates, their new school, and their new town,” says Brae Wood, director of Leadership Southwestern. “Southwestern develops students through its commitment to extensive community service opportunities. Freshman Work Day is an important initial milestone for all students to participate in.”
Wood reports that 186 freshman, 25 Leadership students, SC faculty, staff, and local community members participated and donated more than 1,000 service hours to Winfield.  This year the theme of the day was "Finding Winfield" as students divided into groups, then went to 11 different sites around the town. These ranged from individual homeowners to Whittier Elementary and Baden Square. 
A banquet dinner capped the day and experience. The freshmen, leadership students, homeowners, and community partners reflected on the day and celebrated their work together. 
The day was planned and executed by the Southwestern Leadership team which is one of three service learning teams at SC. 
“The Leadership team is committed to changing ourselves and the world around us through servant leadership,” Wood says. 
Freshman Work Day has been a tradition at Southwestern College for more than 25 years.