West Virginia University’s Collegiate 4-H club members took home top honors for their dedication to on and off-campus service projects during the National Collegiate 4-H Conference which took place in March, at the University of Florida.

Collegiate 4-H clubs from across the country gather at the conference to collaborate, share ideas and refine community service and outreach efforts.

The WVU Collegiate 4-H club won top prize for exemplary work in all five categories, one representing each of the 4 H’s — head, heart, hands and health—with an additional category for spirit, which was awarded for overall enthusiasm for 4-H exhibited at the conference.

The members compiled a portfolio of their work on and off-campus for the judges that demonstrated key 4-H principles: academics, compassion, charity and health.

“This honor is another reminder that the work we do as a club positively reflects on the lessons we were taught through our 4-H upbringing,” said Kara Loyd, the WVU Collegiate 4-H club president. “The core lessons remain the same, but the application evolves — since we’re older, we can serve as positive role models for the younger generation and community at large.”

Examples of some of the service projects that helped capture awards include academic mentoring to younger 4-H members at camps, participating in the “Outspoken for 4-H” bike ride, making blankets for WVU Children’s Hospital patients through Project Linus and participating in WVU events around campus to recruit, build awareness and welcome students.

The club currently has around 30 members, whose community service and outreach engaged more than 40,000 people this past year through 23 different outreach and service projects.

“We’re always looking for new members and we welcome all students, not just those formerly involved with 4-H,” said Loyd. “We want to provide a familiar, all-inclusive environment where bonds of friendship are built on 4-H principles — community service, learning projects and positive social gatherings.”

Loyd also added that the club isn’t a typical student organization, noting strict meeting attendance isn’t required and the atmosphere is more casual, allowing students to not feel pressured into choosing the club over their studies.

Current WVU students looking to positively impact their community and participate can contact Loyd at keloyd@mix.wvu.edu.

For more than a century, 4-H has focused on agricultural science, electricity, mechanics, entrepreneurship and natural sciences. Today, 4-H out-of-school opportunities also exist in subjects like rocketry, robotics, biofuels, renewable energy and computer science.

To learn more about new opportunities in the 4-H program, visit ext.wvu.edu, or contact your local office of the WVU Extension Service.

-WVU-

zl/04/17/15

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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