Dozens gather to beautify campus at annual event

The theme for this year’s Fall Service Day at the University of Missouri-Kansas City was “Take Your Pride Outside.” And that’s exactly what dozens of faculty, staff, students and alumni did Sept. 29 as they gathered in the crisp, autumn chill to pull weeds, plant flowers and demonstrate their commitment to the campus and each other.

Groups gathered on both the Volker and Health Sciences campuses, fortified themselves with doughnuts and fresh fruit, put on their gardening gloves and set to work.

“One of our major focuses this year at UMKC is to foster a vibrant campus culture and community, and really making some noise about how proud we are of our university,” Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal said as he welcomed the volunteers. “We can’t just say it, we have to show it. And a part of showing it means taking pride in our grounds. We can’t just leave it all up to our building and grounds staff – this is a family effort.”

Several participants talked about their reasons for taking part.

“It’s good to make the campus pretty. It will be nice to see the flowers we’re planting today. And it’s a great kickoff to Founder’s Week.”

• Kaity Woody, director of Advancement for the School of Computing and Engineering

“I really enjoy gardening, and what’s better than making the campus look beautiful? And it’s a great opportunity to meet some of the UMKC family.”

• Sue Agrawal, wife of Chancellor Agrawal

“My two new hips make me more powerful, so I thought this would be a good thing to do – help out and try to make the campus look a little nicer.”

• Steve Kraske, professor of Communications Studies and host of “Up to Date” on KCUR-FM

“It was a positive way to give back. Something so simple as planting flowers can really make a difference in bettering the community and campus.”

• Kenny Strawbridge, freshman guard, men’s basketball

| Article by John Martellaro, Division of Strategic Marketing and Communications