Penn State Lehigh Valley Office of Student Affairs hosted its fifth annual New Student Day of Service on Aug. 16 at Flint Hill Farm Educational Center Inc. in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Fifteen new students got their hands dirty helping out with farm chores like painting, cobwebbing, weeding fence lines, and moving firewood.

“The goal of this service opportunity is to introduce new students to the idea of community service and to each other,” said Pam Fleck, assistant director of student affairs. Fleck also said that she likes organizing trips to Flint Hill Farm because at the end of the day, students can see tangible success.

“We are grooming these new students to be well-rounded, and expose them early on to the spirit of giving back,” said Patrick Cassidy, coordinator of student life.

For one new student, Hibah Akbar, she saw this service opportunity as a way to get out of her comfort zone and meet new people at the beginning of her first year.

“I met my first Penn State friends there – this made it easier to connect in classes when we saw each other later,” said Akbar.

To learn more about upcoming service projects, and to join the Community Heroes Club, stop by student affairs room 214.