Photo courtesy of Kelcie Keeling of Peru State College

PERU- Officials are calling the traditional Peru State College clean-up day a success despite rain on Friday morning.

Athletic Director Kyle Pond said 250 students contributed 750 hours of community service picking up and hauling off trash, going through the city to pick up items left by the curb and planting flowers downtown.

Pond: “Peru is our home and we are dedicated to caring for it.”

 

Here is the college's press release

Peru, NE – Friday was a rainy morning, but there were enough breaks in the weather for Peru community members and Peru State College to complete the annual city-wide clean-up.

For 13 years, the college and the community have collaborated to hold the annual event, the week before commencement. Former President Dan Hanson and First Lady Elaine Hanson established this event. The college has helped to maintain its tradition.

PSC’s Athletic Director, Kyle Pond said, "The event was successful with the assistance of approximately 250 students, primarily Bobcat student-athletes and their coaches, who contributed 750 hours of community service.” Pond added, "We want to thank the city and local businesses for their donations and support of this event. All the volunteers have a tremendous impact on our community. We are grateful for their time and effort. Peru is our home, and we are dedicated to caring for it.”

While numerous volunteers picked up and hauled off trash, others walked through the city and picked up items left by the curb to be hauled away. In addition, several individuals planted flowers in large pots downtown.

Peggy Groff, Student Intervention Coordinator, mentioned, "Western National Bank, the Peru Community Church, St. Clara’s Catholic Church, and NorthRidge Church donated food and bottled water for the student volunteers. Additionally, Tractor Supply in Auburn donated work gloves." She expressed her appreciation, saying, "The acts of volunteerism and community pride were evident during this annual clean-up. I truly appreciate everyone who assisted."

Nestled in the hills of historic southeast Nebraska, Peru State College offers a mix of innovative online and traditional classroom undergraduate and graduate programs, including online graduate degrees in education and organizational management.

Established in 1867 as Nebraska’s first college, Peru State has transformed over the past century and a half into a state-of-the-art institution offering diverse, multifaceted educational programs annually to nearly 2,000 students.