TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT DEBORAH MOHLENHOFF, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AT (607) 274-3222 (OFFICE) OR (607) 351-0047 (CELL)

ITHACA, NY — Nearly 250 first-year Ithaca College students and 65 upper class team leaders will be arriving on campus early this week to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the Ithaca-area community. Among the activities scheduled for the new students will be the Community Plunge program, now in its 12th year. Taking place Friday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Aug. 23, Community Plunge 2008 will involve the students in service projects at 25 local agencies, including

·         Building a playground at the Head Start program located at Longview, 1 Bella Vista Drive

·         Landscaping and gardening at Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Road

·         Labeling books for the Family Readership Partnership at 54 Gunderman Road

·         Painting road signs for the AIDS Ride for Life at the Southern Tier AIDS Program, 501 S. Meadow, and

·         Painting the interior at the Community School of Music and Arts, 330 E. State St.

The Community Plunge is one of four components of the college’s Jumpstart program, which also includes

·         SCC (Sustainable Community Challenge) — 35 first year students and 5 upper class team leaders will learn about being a part of a connected community and understand the impact they have on a local, regional, and global level. On Friday, participants will tour the area, visiting the Bolton Point Water System, Galton Dairy Farm, Montezuma  National Wildlife Refuge, and Eco-Village. On Saturday, participants will explore the local community through an interactive community scavenger hunt that will also teach them how to utilize the public bus system.

·         E.C.H.O. (Experiencing Connections by Heading Outdoors) — 60 to 70 participants will get to know each other by hiking the Finger Lakes Trail and camping overnight in tents.

·         Lead-In —50 participants will take part in a challenge course and other activities that explore leadership topics. 

“These students are highly motivated, have gone through an application process to participate, and have experience in community service activities,” said Deborah Mohlenhoff, assistant director of community service and leadership development. “They are choosing to take part in these programs through their altruistic character, not as a mandatory requirement.”

Jumpstart is sponsored by the Center for Student Leadership & Involvement and the Office for New Student Programs.