Muskingum hosts annual Christmas on Campus

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Kailyn Shalosky
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Muskingum University’s John and Annie Glenn Public Service Fellows program are hosting the annual Christmas on Campus event.

Christmas on Campus provides Muskingum University with the opportunity to make a local child’s Christmas experience special. 

Christmas on Campus started at Muskingum in 1989. This is the third year the Glenn Fellows have hosted the event.

Muskingum Chaplin, Julia (Wright) Sprague and retired Muskingum Special Events Planner Penny Selock were the previous project managers.

The Glenn Fellows are partnering with Guernsey County Head Start this holiday season.

Guernsey County Head Start provides the Glenn Fellows with Christmas lists of children in need, and the students share those lists with campus members wanting to participate.

Muskingum University clubs, organizations, or individuals can choose to donate money to purchase gifts, or they can choose to buy the gifts on the provided Christmas list.

Scan the QR code above to sign-up for Christmas on Campus. The last day to sign-up is Nov. 29.

Since the Glenn Fellows are a student group committed to civic and community engagement, Christmas on Campus provides them with service-learning projects like this opportunity.

Co-director of the John and Annie Glenn Fellows program, Dr. Keith Eberly, said this project allows the Fellows to learn more about putting together a community program and how to communicate with interested parties and how to organize a collection process, all while meeting the needs of the people in the community.

There are currently 20 sign-ups so far for the Christmas on Campus event, compared to last year’s 12 sign-ups.

“We’ve tried to be a little more systematic in how we’ve communicated and reached out to various departments and programs, and I guess we thought it would work and it has,” said Eberly.

Students Emma Cepek, Ethan Miller, and Madison Johnson are the student co-project managers of this event.

“It’s amazing we have 20 people [and groups] signed up to donate to Christmas on campus. This is a significant increase from last year, and it really feels like the whole campus is coming together for this cause,” said Cepek.

The last day for campus organizations to make a gift or money donation is Nov. 29. 

To sign-up for Christmas on Campus, scan the QR code in the photo, or contact Emma Cepek at ecepek1@muskingum.edu.

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Community comes together to honor veterans

Posted on November 13, 2021 by Kailyn Shalosky
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The Village of New Concord hosted the annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Westminster Presbyterian Church Thursday, Nov. 11.

The ceremony opened with the song “Eternal Father” followed by more patriotic music with John Chalfont on organ and Jerry Gibson on piano.

New Concord Mayor Jennifer Lyle gave the greeting of the ceremony, which was followed by the audience joining her in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Rev. Bryan Kittner, presented the invocation which was followed by a musical tribute from the Singing W’s and friends.

Reverend Bryan Kittner and Pastor Keith Taylor join the Singing W's in their musical tribute. Both spoke at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

Reverend Bryan Kittner and Pastor Keith Taylor join the Singing W’s in their musical tribute. Both spoke at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

Ohio Representative Adam Holmes who was a U.S. Marine Corps for over 30 years, presented the recognition of veterans at the ceremony.

“So much obligation and respect to those that went before us that I still feel now,” said Holmes.

Holmes shared history related to Veterans Day in Ohio. Holmes said that there are 700,009 thousand veterans in Ohio alone, which is nearly eight percent of the population. He asked the audience to raise their hand if they knew a veteran of a specific war.

“Love and respect for those who went before us, to honor the way they defended our nation. We are going to move that forward because there are people who are not veterans yet who are in this audience and continuing that American tradition,” said Holmes during the recognition of veterans.

The New Concord Girl Scout Troop 8101 presented the wreath, and the Presentation of the Colors and Retirement of the Colors was done by the New Concord Boy Scout Troop 510.

The New Concord Girl Scout Troop 8101 presented the wreath at the ceremony. The wreath is on display at the New Concord War Memorial.

The New Concord Girl Scout Troop 8101 presented the wreath at the ceremony. The wreath is on display at the New Concord War Memorial.

“What better day than Veterans Day to remind is what an extraordinary community we have in New Concord,” said Mayor Lyle.

Pianist Jerry Gibson performs at the Veterans Day ceremony. Gibson also sang with the Singing W's.

Pianist Jerry Gibson performs at the Veterans Day ceremony. Gibson also sang with the Singing W’s.

The ceremony concluded with the audience coming together to sing “God Bless America” and a benediction given by Rev. Bryan Kittner.

Refreshments were provided by The John & Annie Glenn Museum.

Community members can visit the New Concord War Memorial on Main Street.

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