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Volunteer service is one of the ways Knox connects with the Galesburg community

Launching the Academic Year by Exploring, Engaging Galesburg

The Kleine Center for Community Service partnered with the Knox chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-educational national service fraternity, for Explore and Engage Galesburg.

"For me, volunteering isn't just doing the work. It's about interacting with people," said APO member Jenny Ripka '17, who volunteered Wednesday at the Galesburg Public Library. "It builds a sense of community."

Other Knox students who volunteered at Wednesday's event included Sam Jacobson, from Wauconda, Illinois, and Laura Jenn, from New Bern, North Carolina. Both first-year students were part of a group helping with painting, cleaning, and other work at Prairie Players Civic Theatre, and now they're both thinking about volunteering with the community theatre group on a regular basis.

"I did technical theatre in high school, and I'm interested in doing theatre things" [as a Knox student], Jacobson said.

"I saw this as an opportunity to gain momentum in the community," said Jenn.

Judy Diemer, president of Prairie Players, said the students' contributions are greatly appreciated because the Galesburg theatre group relies heavily on volunteers. "Having eight people show up, enthusiastic and willing to work, is huge for us," she said.