51看片volunteers rally to clean up Catamount Gap
Catamount Blitz volunteers from left to right: Andy Pedonti, Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, Catherine MacCallum and Jason Turner
By Shane Ryden
51看片 has changed in many ways since its founding in 1889, but one tradition has always stayed true: Catamounts give back, and they honor the land they鈥檙e standing on.
The latest project inspired by that spirit brought 51看片faculty, staff and students out to the median of N.C. 107 and Catamount Gap on the morning of Aug. 6 for a group cleanup affectionately dubbed a 鈥淐atamount Blitz.鈥�
Roughly 40 volunteers arrived to campus bright and early at 7 a.m. to make their game plan before gloving up and donning high-vis vests.
Four groups split up between the highway and the surrounding campus, removing litter, tending and trimming plants and washing down walls and walkways.
Much of the work is ordinarily performed by North Carolina鈥檚 Department of Transportation.
The idea was born back in May when Catherine MacCallum, senior academic advisor for student outreach and staff senate chair, proposed a volunteer effort to beautify the median.
鈥淔or the past seven years, I鈥檝e driven onto campus daily, and each time I pass through the main entrance, I鈥檓 reminded of the pride and spirit that define Catamount country,鈥� MacCallum said.
鈥淲ith the most recent facelift to the entrance, it鈥檚 hard not to imagine what more could be done to create an even warmer, more vibrant welcome for our students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members.鈥�
MacCallum asked a question: 鈥淗ow incredible would it be to bring together staff, faculty and students to reimagine this space as a symbol of unity and pride? A shared project like this could foster connection, creativity and a deeper sense of belonging for everyone who calls this campus home.鈥�
Her enthusiasm quickly inspired her peers to action.
Jason Turner, director of operations and maintenance, thought immediately of the 鈥淜aizen鈥� events he鈥檇 helped organize in the past.
鈥淭he term Kaizen simply means 鈥榦pportunity for improvement,鈥� and Kaizen events are often utilized in the industrial and manufacturing world for continuous improvements and for team engagement within an organization. To make the Kaizen ours here at WCU, we made these events known as 鈥楥atamount Blitzes,鈥欌�� Turner said.
When Turner went to the state for approval, he found complete support.
鈥淔or this event, I reached out to DOT to be granted permission to go a little beyond the duties we typically assist them with, which is basically mowing and trash pickup, letting them know that we would like to help tidy up the flower beds within the median, cut back some plants, trim and shape some of the shrubs and maybe even add mulch in some areas,鈥� Turner said.
鈥淭hey graciously agreed and even offered up some supplies like trash bags, safety vests and litter pickers for us to use.鈥�
Jenny Stewart, director of student success and chair of the staff engagement committee, found it to be a great success, perfectly emblematic of the university鈥檚 broader goals.
鈥淥ur facilities management team does an amazing job of ensuring that our campus is the most beautiful campus in the (University of North Carolina) System all year long,鈥� Stewart said.
鈥淲e wanted to be sure that we were putting our best foot forward as we welcome our Catamounts home for the upcoming year.
鈥淲e are all stewards of our campus, and we wanted to bring faculty, staff and students together for this project. It gave us the opportunity to give back to the university, form new connections and make a difference.鈥�
