By MICHELLE ADAMS / Community Columnist

In conjunction with the University of Montevallo’s Big Event, Montevallo High School held its second annual Day of Service, Saturday, April 5. A variety of improvement projects were completed by 52 high school students and about 20 university students who spent their Saturday morning in service to the community.

Agriscience teacher Blake Ray assigned his students the task of building picnic tables, which were stained, sealed and placed outside near the cafeteria by volunteer students. Additional projects included cleaning the courtyard area and supplying this area with tables, chairs and plants, installing plants and planters for the front entrance, cleaning and organizing the school’s basement and picking up trash in all parts of the campus.

“I helped clean out the basement, which needed organizing,” senior Maddie Phillips said. “Everyone worked hard to help improve our campus, and now we have several new settings to enhance student life, like the picnic tables we may use to eat outside in nice weather.”

In addition to teachers donating tables and chairs, members of the community donated time and money toward students’ efforts. City Councilman Don Hughes donated money toward purchasing chairs, as well as a $50 McDonald’s gift card, used as a drawing prize. Hughes also assisted with prepping and painting a table and chair set donated by another community member, Leon Davis.

The MHS Student Government Association donated funds for cleaning materials and to provide lunch for volunteer workers.

“We are so appreciative of all the community support in this effort,” SGA sponsor Lee Pastor said. “Students worked really hard sanding, painting, planting, cleaning up and hauling off trash. It was beautiful weather and students could have chosen other activities to be involved in that day, but we had volunteers here by 7:30 a.m. ready to work, ready to provide service to their school.”

Family and consumer science teacher Brandi Eades provided plants and enlisted the help of her husband Michael to pressure wash the courtyard.

“It was amazing to see so many students complete various projects to improve our school atmosphere,” Eades said.