University and college students pitch-in for a good cause

Despite being in the middle of the high-pressure final exam period as the school year draws to a close, the Student Association (SA) of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Durham College and Trent University in Oshawa joined forces with members of the community to get their hands dirty for a good cause on April 24.

Organized by the SA at UOIT, students led a community clean-up project both on campus and in the surrounding neighbourhoods along streets such as Dalhousie Crescent and Niagara Drive, which many students call home during the school year. Armed with garbage bags and enthusiastic smiles, the group led by incoming SA president Anthony Boland spent a bright, Saturday morning working together to improve their community and raise awareness about the importance of actions that promote environmental sustainability.

"This is a way for everyone to give back something to the campus community," said Melissa Schultz, SA vice-president-elect, Internal. "Collectively we are making a positive impact, cleaning up and having fun."

Administrators from UOIT's External Relations department took part and lent a helping hand, including vice-president, MaryLynn West-Moynes, associate vice-president, Catherine Drea and executive assistant, Cathy Pitcher.

The clean-up is an SA annual tradition and happened to coincide this year with a broader environmental movement called Pitch-In Week, held across the country from April 19 to 25. The week is sponsored by Pitch-In Canada, a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to connecting Canadians to their communities and environment. The City of Oshawa was a proud participant as well and provided free garbage bags and gloves to the SA.

The community clean-up is just one of many projects that the SA organizes to connect students with their community. The SA recently held a charity gala for Epilepsy Durham Region which raised thousands of dollars for the organization. At the same time, the event celebrated UOIT's graduating class of 2010 and connected students with prominent community leaders such as the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Whitby-Oshawa MP and Minister of Finance.

"We inject millions of dollars into the local economy," explains Anthony Boland, president-elect, SA. "We support local organizations and community events - the Eastview Boys and Girls Club, Rotary Club, the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Oshawa Kinsmen Club, local women's shelters and the Durham chapter of the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to name a few. We are tomorrow's doctors, nurses, business leaders,lawyers and engineers. Essentially, we bring a lot to this community," added Boland. The SA is proud of its community involvement and keen to share the many great initiatives that students of UOIT, Durham College and Trent regularly support.

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