The Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic and Urban Engagement will be immersing all first-year students in civic engagement through a new event: The Wittenberg Way Build, set to take place on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 2-4:30 p.m. during Welcome Week festivities. The event will take place on the campus of Wittenberg University in the Krieg Hall parking lot, weather permitting.

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton, students will participate in service activities including building sheds for families, crafting Welcome Home kits that include a variety of helpful home supplies, and creating craft projects that can provide decor to their spaces. Alumni will also be participating in the event by providing students with a treat to cool off while helping students feel welcome in their new home. The Hagen Center will also host other service projects in Geil Lounge, located in the basement of the Benham-Pence Student Center and at the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning.

"Partnering with Habitat for Humanity as students move-in feels like the right partner for the new students and the new year,” said Rachel Scherzer, associate director for civic learning at the Hagen Center.  “Students are getting comfortable in their new home at Wittenberg during this time and we hope to make the Habitat families feel at home through our service, too. We hope the Wittenberg Way Build can become a yearly tradition for incoming students and that it will provide a continued connection with Habitat for Humanity in the Springfield community.”