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SMC Students Serve at Aldersgate

By John Messer
Contributing Writer
Forty-five incoming freshmen from Spartanburg Methodist College, in conjunction with the Ninth Annual Freshman Day of Service, 2009, came from SMC to Aldersgate United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 22 for a workday. Purpose of this visit was to assist in cleaning/maintenance at the church at 690 Park Road and the parsonage at 120 Pine View Drive. Nature of the work to be done included: trimming shrubs and trees, cleaning, weeding, removing brush, planting, loading/unloading limbs, junque for disposal at the landfill, digging, and installing storm windows. These students were from a group of more than 400 freshmen performing mandatory orientation “helping hands” assistance at eighteen different sites throughout Spartanburg County.
The SMC contingent was headed by Leah Pruitt, Alumni Director at SMC for the past seven years; Susie Williams, recently named SMC Head Volleyball Coach and Sports Information Director, Student Advisors Ryan Andrews and Bobbie LeJuene, and Resident Assistants Reggie Fillmore and Miranda Anthony. Students were identified by their blue T-shirts, which set the tone for workday. The front of the T-shirt stated: “Orientation 2009. SMC: Your future presentation”. Slogans on the back included: “Life is no longer a High School Musical. College can be fast and furious. At times you may feel like a castaway, but keep your chin up. You will see the good, the bad, and the ugly. But don’t focus on the super bad. We live in a world where role models are wanted. Serving others is As Good As It Gets.”
AUMC Trustees Chair Clyde Davis and SMC Chaplain Candice Sloan conducted preparation for this occasion. Trustee Davis could not be present for work-day due to a conflict, but AUMC Laity Leader Tamara Gosnell coordinated activities in his absence, with assistance of AUMC members who supervised activities at various work sites.
Pastor Bill Bynum welcomed the SMC students and staff members, stating: “We appreciate SMC’s making these young people available to help our cleaning needs at this time of year. The spirit and energy displayed by them in this effort, working together as a team, provides excellent training for them as future members of the work force.”
Alumni Director Leah Pruitt reported: “It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to see the impact they can make within the Spartanburg community. It’s an excellent way for students to get to know each other and build teamwork”. Leah, a native of Newberry, is an graduate of SMC, received a BA in Art from USC/Upstate, and is pursuing a Masters degree at Converse.
Student Grant Hill of Columbus, Ohio, planning to major in Criminal Justice, remarked: “This is a brand-new, very unique experience, to be able to help people in our SMC community.”
Student Austin Smith of Inman, a Chapman graduate intending to major in Law Enforcement, reported: “This is an excellent activity for all involved. A teamwork activity on the part of SMC students and staff, it affords the added bonus of our getting to know each other better. It’s also a good opportunity to show our faith to our peers.”
Student Nikki Briggs of Spartanburg, a graduate of Spartanburg High School, is undecided on her major. She summarized the workday with: “It’s good to give back to our community churches. I think such activities have a definite impact in our Spartanburg County areas.”
An unexpected bonus of this day was enjoyed by Inman (Mills) native and retiree (36 years service) Jimmy Waldrop, a current shut-in who lives directly across Park Road from AUMC. Jimmy has had recent, serious health complications, but has recuperated enough to be able to observe the 2 ½ hour activity of workday from his back porch. He was amazed “at the energy and enthusiasm of the students and AUMC members, and the amount of work that was accomplished in a relatively short time”.
In summary, the SMC Freshman Day of Service at Aldersgate was a win-win-win situation. All who participated can rejoice that they were part of a well-organized, well concerted effort by a newly-formed but efficient team, which accomplished the scheduled work quickly and admirably, on an extremely hot and humid day.

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