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Pre-Orientation Service Program helps new students engage in Easton community
Story by Stephen Wilson; photos by Clay Wegrzynowicz
Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP) started with a splash as 36 first-year students and 24 returning student leaders dove into five service projects. Coordinated by Landis Center for Community Engagement, POSP is an immersive service experience where participants engage in meaningful service, build lasting relationships, and develop both as leaders and active citizens. POSP is a catalyst that encourages students to make connections through their service experiences that result in increased appreciation of the Easton community. The service projects focused on kids, teens, senior citizens, and urban agriculture. Each project benefited a number of programs, including Boys and Girls Club of Easton, Easton Area Community Center, March Elementary School, Morningstar Retirement Living Community, Urban Garden, LaFarm, and Firth Youth Center. A princess stole a crystal during an original performance arts piece with March Elementary students. POSPers were in the West Ward and South Side areas of Easton for a variety of painting, gardening, and cleanup projects, like digging out infected trees that compromised a fence and plants at the Urban Garden. Culinary demonstrations included ''watermelon pizza'' that substituted fruit and yogurt for crust, sauce, and toppings. Nitrogen was on hand for some science experiments that froze soap, flowers, balloons, and fruit juice. The hot and humid days made the outdoor work more challenging, but water play on March Field cooled off everyone. Collaboration was a big theme: how to work together across all projects for both participants and leaders. It wasn’t all work for the POSPers. An '80s Dance Party helped one night as did a Community Dinner at First United Church of Christ. ''POSP is a wonderful opportunity to meet and form meaningful relationships with other first-year students as well as returning student leaders,'' says Chelsea Cefalu, assistant director of community-based learning and research. ''POSP is an excellent transition to Lafayette College and the Easton community,'' says Art Kney, professor of civil and environmental engineering and faculty director of Landis Center for Community Engagement. The program makes first-year students aware of the many service opportunities available to them during their time at Lafayette. Typically, a high percentage of POSP participants commit to some form of community service throughout their college years.
