In recognition of the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, Ohio college campuses came together to honor those lost through service, remembrance, and community impact. With funding provided by the Alliance for Campus Community Engagement, three Community Campus Coalition (Triple C) campus partners organized projects that brought students, campus communities, and local partners together to make a difference.
Together, Marietta College, the University of Akron, and Denison University contributed 841 volunteers and 683 hours of service, demonstrating how higher education can strengthen communities through meaningful acts of service.
Marietta College: Faces of Freedom
Marietta College organized Faces of Freedom, a series of service projects throughout September across Marietta and Belpre, Ohio, and Vienna, West Virginia. Activities included writing thank-you cards, assembling and sending care packages, hosting a fire safety event with first responders, harvesting healthy food, supporting Homes For Our Troops, and organizing a volunteer fair.
The projects offered numerous opportunities for volunteers to honor the spirit of service while supporting veterans, first responders, and community members.
Impact: 746 volunteers | 579 service hours
University of Akron: Remembering Through Service
The University of Akron organized a campus-wide remembrance and service initiative involving students, faculty, staff, campus partners, and community organizations.
A central feature was the display of 2,977 U.S. flags on Coleman Common, each representing a life lost on September 11, 2001. Alongside this tribute, volunteers supported veterans through Pack to Give Back, restocked the Campus Cupboard pantry, harvested produce from the Campus Community Garden, participated in the 9/11 Good Deeds Pledge, and supported a Red Cross blood drive.
These efforts created meaningful opportunities for the campus community to reflect, support neighbors, and turn remembrance into action.
Impact: 87 volunteers | 80 service hours
Denison University: Growing Community Through Service
At Together We Grow Community Garden in Newark, Ohio, Denison University volunteers helped build six new garden beds to expand opportunities for community members to grow their own food.
The project supports food security and sustainability while repurposing land previously used for construction. The new garden beds will provide a lasting resource for the community and encourage greater access to gardening and fresh food.
The project is an example of how hands-on service can address community needs while creating benefits that extend well beyond a single day of volunteering.
Impact: 8 volunteers | 24 service hours
Honoring the Past by Investing in Our Communities
These three projects reflect the lasting power of service to bring people together, respond to community needs, and create positive change. Through their participation in the 25th anniversary of 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, Marietta College, the University of Akron, and Denison University demonstrated how campus-community partnerships can honor the past while investing in stronger communities for the future.
Community Campus Coalition is proud to recognize these campus partners and the students, volunteers, and community organizations who made these efforts possible.