UHD : GatorServe 2021 Honors 20th Anniversary Of 9/11

Press release from the University of Houston-Downtown:

September 16, 2021

Each year on Sept. 11, the University of Houston-Downtown family comes out in full force for a day of service, or GatorServe. This year's event was especially mindful of this day in U.S. history.

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, 149 students, faculty, staff members, alumni and community parners assembled to honor the memory of those who lost their lives during that day's tragic events. Among those in attendance was UHD President Loren J. Blanchard and Texas historian 1st Sgt. Ret. Donald Williams. Staff from Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis' office also were on hand to provide support.

Campus groups that volunteered at this event included the Student Government Association, the UHD Women's Soccer Team and the Beta Sigma Chapter of the Omega Delta Phi faternity.

Volunteers met at the Finnigan Park Community Center, then walked to the nearby Evergreen Historic Negro Cemetery to plant flowers, lay mulch and attend to this aging burial site in the Fifth Ward.

"My father always told me that we are called upon to do two things," said President Blanchard. "To love ... and to serve. We are doing just that this morning."

The volunteer effort was coordinated by UHD's Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning in collaboration with the Why Not Legacy Group, Project R.E.S.P.E.C.T and Harris County's Precinct 1. Lunch was provided by Kitchen HTX.

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD)—the second largest university in Houston—has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974.

As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates more than 15,000 students; boasts more than 54,000 alumni and offers 44 bachelor’s, nine master’s degree programs and 16 fully online programs within five colleges (Marilyn Davies College of Business; Humanities & Social Sciences; Public Service, Sciences & Technology; and University College).

UHD has the most affordable tuition among four-year universities in Houston and one of the lowest in Texas. The University is noted nationally as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Minority-Serving Institution and Military Friendly School. For more on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit www.uhd.edu.

This press release was produced by the University of Houston-Downtown. The views expressed here are the author’s own.