Honors students, faculty and staff joined together Saturday morning to clean up this year’s site for the Honors College Spring Service project — the Old Lutheran Cemetery.
The cemetery, located in Old South Baton Rouge, is the oldest African-American cemetery in the city and was chosen by Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker of District 10, said Granger Babcock, associate dean of the Honors College.
“It’s part of the beautification and renewal project in her district,” Babcock said. “Our other community partner is Campus Federal, who helped us get in contact with Tara Wicker and arrange for the project.”
Blaine Grimes, financial education coordinator at Campus Federal, said Campus Federal has been working on service projects for almost eight years.
“We’ve worked in locations all over the city,” Grimes said. “I wanted to find a location close to our area in district 10.”
The Old Lutheran Cemetery was selected as the site for the project in January, and students and staff will be working at the site several Saturday afternoons until the project is completed, Grimes said.
In the past, other historic sites, like the Sweet Olive Cemetery, have been featured in a beautification project, and Wicker said she hopes to turn her attention to redevelop the area north of campus.
“This site is significant to the community,” Wicker said. “The area had become a real eyesore to the residents in the area. We knew we had to do it.”
Grimes and Wicker both describe the choice of the historic Lutheran cemetery as a “no-brainer” decision.
Kristen Callais, international studies freshman, and several of her friends joined in on the effort by painting graves.
“We’re trying to fix up as much as we can,” Callais said about the restoration project. “We’re just giving the community a jumping point to go off of.”
Brittni Naylor, biochemistry freshman, said she signed up because the project was for a good cause.
“We’re giving back to the community, and people are noticing,” Naylor said. “People will stop and thank us. They just appreciate the help.”
Michelle Limbaugh, biology and French junior, participated in the service project by pulling up weeds around gravesites.
Limbaugh said she participated in Community Bound with Volunteer LSU in the fall.
“I really enjoyed the work with Community Bound and wanted to volunteer again,” she said.
Ming He, chemical engineering freshman, said he signed up for the program because he likes to volunteer.
“Service builds character, and it’s always a good thing to add to your résumé,” he said.
Community service is an expectation for students in the Honors College, Babcock said.
“This project is specifically linked to learning outcomes for Honors 2000, which most Honors students take during their freshman year,” Babcock said.
Joseph Ard Jr., supervisor at the Department of Public Works, provided lawn equipment for the students to use.
 
 
____
Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]