Student Impact will be “Out of this World” as incoming freshmen and transfers flood Harding’s campus August 15-18.
The theme was chosen by juniors Jared Dryden and Lily Armstrong, the co-directors of Impact.
According to the Director of Campus Life Logan Light, the theme is versatile enough to go along with all of the various activities that will be happening during the Impact weekend.
“There is an obvious connection of being in this world but not of this world,” Light said. “But it also gives them the opportunity to do some 1970s and 1980s NASA-inspired things.”
Impact will also have energy group leaders who will facilitate groups of the incoming students in getting to know each other. They will also help direct the groups during the day of service with various service projects.
Senior Allison Musslewhite was an energy group leader in the fall of 2011 and said that it was a great opportunity to encourage the incoming students to be outgoing and branch out to make new friends.
“Their experience depends on what you as their energy group leader put into it and how much they participate,” Musslewhite said. “If you make the activities of each day sound like a fun and exciting time, they’ll be more likely to stick around and engage in the Impact events.”
The most rewarding part of being an energy group leader, according to Musslewhite, was the service project she helped lead with her group.
Musslewhite said her energy group was asked to help clean up the Lightle Center, a facility which serves the senior citizens of Searcy by offering opportunities to keep them active and socially connected. Musslewhite said the center was in need of some extra hands to power-wash the building, knock down wasp nests and deep clean the kitchen and center vehicles.
“It’s really neat to see these students from all different places come together for a common goal, and watch them become great friends in the process,” Musslewhite said.
If you would like to help out with Student Impact as an energy group leader, go to www.harding.edu/impact or stop by the CAB office to pick up an application. The cost is $35, which will help pay for meals and a T-shirt.
