SUU Honors Legacy of Resilience with Annual Founders Week Celebration

On Saturday, March 28, the Southern Utah University (SUU) community continued a century-old tradition of giving back during the annual SUU Day of Service. Marking a key highlight of the University’s Founder’s Week celebrations, 179 volunteers fanned out across Iron County to strengthen the community that has supported the institution since 1897.

Characterized by a sea of red-shirts, volunteers revitalized areas in Cedar City and Enoch through extensive outdoor restoration and indoor humanitarian projects.

Crews cleared trash and graffiti at Coal Creek and Cross Hollows trails, performed essential landscaping and construction at Head Start and the Family Support Center, and assisted with large-scale cleaning at the Care & Share warehouse and local dog park. Simultaneously, volunteers on campus supported first responders and the Children’s Justice Center by hand-crafting blankets and activity bags for children in crisis.

"The Day of Service is a powerful reminder that SUU was built on the service and sacrifice of this community,” said Pam Branin, SUU Community Engagement Center Director. “Seeing our students work alongside employees and neighbors to support our community proves that the founding spirit of service is very much alive today!"

The initiative underscores SUU’s commitment to community impact and career-focused learning, as students gain leadership skills and a sense of civic belonging through these hands-on projects. By assisting local partners, the University aims to turn ambition into achievement, not just in the classroom, but through meaningful service that benefits all residents of Cedar City.

“We did lots of different things to help: removed tumble weeds, added sand to paths, and cleared other debris,” explains Audra Wilson, an SUU Junior majoring in exercise science, who was among the group that provided service at the Enoch Dark Park. “Service helps me to feel connected to the community that I live in. It gives me time to get outside myself. It reminds me that I can make a positive impact and learn so much from those around me!”

“I helped out picking up garbage along Cross Hollow Road and trail with about 15 others,” said Torrance Johnson, a Chemistry major and Junior at SUU. “It was necessary, so many receipts, bottles and other random things were there. One local saw us and said, ‘thanks for doing this. I normally bring a grocery bag and pick up some garbage everyday I walk through here.’ We gathered about 15 garbage bags total of trash.”

Also among the participants were SUU’s Flippin Birds gymnasts who strive to set an example of hard work - in and out of the gym. “Being a part of a small town University means that we get the ability to know our supporters and fans,” said teammate Caralia Martinez, a Junior at SUU and Exercise Science major. “Community service gives us a chance to give back just a small portion of what this community does for us, while also bringing people together to embody the spirit of SUU.”

As the volunteers returned to campus, the day’s efforts left a visible mark on the region, proving once again that at SUU, education and service go hand-in-hand.