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The North Wind

The North Wind

The North Wind

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The North Wind is an independent student publication serving the Northern Michigan University community. It is partially funded by the Student Activity Fee. The North Wind digital paper is published daily during the fall and winter semesters except on university holidays and during exam weeks. The North Wind Board of Directors is composed of representatives of the student body, faculty, administration and area media.

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Circle K volunteers for all day event

By Kristin Halsey

Circle K International, a college division of the Kiwanis Club at Northern, is celebrating the 10th year of its annual 24-Hour Service Project.

While the club participates in many volunteering opportunities, this is one of the biggest projects of the year.
Sarah Morrison, a senior political science major, has been a part of the 24-Hour Service Project since she was a freshman.

“Sadly, this is my last year as a Circle K member and taking part in the 24-Hour Service Project; however, I am still excited to see my old friends from past 24-Hours and make new ones this year,” Morrison said.

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The focus of the project is to provide various community organizations with assistance in annual upkeep and maintenance by providing labor through the students.

One unique thing about the project is it welcomes students not only from our university. Other universities in Wisconsin and Michigan also have CKI divisions that participate.

Many of the volunteers come back every year despite the long distance to reach the event.

“For the past 10 years, students from all over Michigan and Wisconsin have made the travel of hundreds of miles to attend this project to Marquette to provide various acts of service for the Marquette community,” Morrison said.

Volunteers start at the Salvation Army in Marquette, then volunteer overnight to clean the Children’s Museum.
The next day, they go around to other locations in Marquette, such as the Moosewood Nature Center, eventually ending up at Bay Cliff Health Camp to meet other Kiwanians. Bay Cliff hosts an overnight stay after the day of helping with cleanup and maintenance.

The amount of people participating in the event has increased in the last 10 years to more than 60 students.
Students that are brand new to CKI and the 24-Hour Project at NMU have shown an eagerness to participate in the event this year, unlike past years where heavy involvement had been dependant upon participation from other schools.

Emily Anderton, a sophomore nursing major and treasurer of CKI, is a first time attendee to the event and said she is looking forward to it.

“The response we have gotten from the students here is unbelievable,” Anderton said. “Our Circle K meetings have been packed every time. It is great to see that so many fellow students truly care about giving back and getting out to volunteer.”

The project itself has received multiple awards for the club from the Marquette community, Kiwanis International, as well as from NMU for the help it provides throughout the community.

Sara Hujar, a sophomore ESPR major and president of CKI, said this is an important event.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to meet other students from different schools that share the same interest in volunteering,” Hujar said. “One thing I am looking forward to the most is seeing all of the Circle K members from the other schools again, and meeting their new members as well.”

Not only does the 24-Hour Project benefit the community, it is also a great way to complete the citizenship edge for the Superior Edge program. Participants do not need to stay the entire 24 hours. They do need to be at the Salvation Army, between 7 and 9 p.m., Friday Sept. 16 in order to register for the project.

This year, not only is CKI celebrating their 10th year of service, they will also be honoring the memory of John Okenkowski, a long-time Marquette resident and founding member of the NMU CKI chapter, who died of complications from ALS this past summer.

The 24-Hour Service Project is taking place Sept. 16-18. Registration begins at 7 p.m. at the Salvation Army in Marquette. There is $20 registration fee with a T-shirt order or $10 without the T-shirt. For more information, email NMU CKI at [email protected].

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