Students Honor Troops with Cards

 

The Omega Honors Society provided Dickinsonians the opportunity to thank the troops at their Card For Troops event, which students and faculty felt was a positive way to give back during the holiday season.

At the event, students could design cards for troops overseas to remind them that Americans back home are appreciative of their service. Several Dickinsonians attended this event in the social hall on Nov. 28.

Service Event Philanthropy Chairs for the Omega Honors Society Hyla Jacobson ’18 and Caroline Pappalardo ’18 organized the event. Pappalardo said that the initial steps in planning were initiated by the fact that she has a cousin deployed overseas now in the military.

The Omega Honors Society is an all Greek honors society on campus and wanted to do a philanthropy event in the fall to get the organization’s name out there. Pappalardo also said that this event was a way to show support for the all Greek community on campus and how they can work together to be a positive influence.

Jacobson said that “…we just had Thanksgiving, so this way an easy way to be thankful and give back. A good reminder [for Dickinson students] that there are people out there doing things greater than we are and we need to show our appreciation.”

The event had strong support from the Associate Director of Sorority Life and Leadership Programs Anna Baldasarre and Associate Director of Fraternity Life and Experiential Leadership Education Sean Ryan. Jacobson and Pappalardo notified them of their interest in hosting the event, and they were supportive and gave them free reign on the project.

Ryan said, “We should not take anything for granted because things can change which affects us, so I think it [is] important and truly humbling that our students recognize and want to send their sincere thanks.  I applaud the student leaders who developed and executed this event and anyone who participated.  I am very proud to say I work at Dickinson College with amazing student leaders who are engaged in initiatives like this.”

The group’s plan to distribute these cards is to send the cards to organizations in the states who will ship them out to service members across the world.

The Omega Honors Society also has Dickinson alumni contacts who are overseas along with family and friends of Dickinson students where the cards could be potentially sent and distributed through them.