ENc..OLJR..AG\NG SM\LES Through the years Harding has been known for its service projects. It seemed that there was always an organization putting on an activity or selling things in order to raise money for a cause. One group on campus went above and beyond the call of service for a long time, even beyond U.S. borders . T he Jesus Project was started at Harding about 13 years ago byWalton Scholars. They took it upon themselves to support children as they went through school in El Salvador. T he goal of the Jesus Project was to graduate students from high school. Since the project had been going on for over a decade, SOlne students supported by the Jesus Project had already graduated, thus meeting their goal. The project still supported those in college as best as it could . "Basically, we try to help the kids with school supplies and uniforms," president of the Jesus Project, sophomore Jose Elvir said. "With all the fundraising we do here at Harding we also do a mission trip every summer." During the 2009 - 10 school year the Jesus Pr'oject sup– ported roughly 250 - 350 students in El Salvador. The Jesus Project had 13 projects to raise money to give support for the children . T hese projects ranged from food projects, getting shoes fo r the kids, raising money for the children to have Christmas presents and a Christmas party . "Right now we are working on transportation projects be– cause most of the kids have to walk one hour one way just to get to school," Elvir said. "So we try to provide transportation for them . " TheJesus project had accomplished many great tasks in the past. They provided the students with electricity, computers and I nternet access. DOing this was fun for most of the partic– ipants in the Jesus Project because they just wanted to serve. "Knowing that we are doing something, giving something back [is] a reminder [of] how blessed we Walton Scholars are," senior Lucero Gutierrez said. "Sometimes we forget and take for granted everything we have, and [are reminded] every time we do an activity that we need to give something back like we have received. Thank God we have this and we want to serve H im. More than anything [we] try to serve God and to give something back to Him [for] what He has given to us." The Jesus Project did not only benefit the students in £1 Salvador, but also the Walton Scholars themselves . T his proj– ect allowed Walton Scholars of all majors the opportunity to get involved, and it paid off in many differ ent ways. As already mentioned, they received the opportunity to serve others and grow from it, not only spiritually, but academically as well. T his project was more than just something good to do; it prepared the Walton Scholars for life. Martha de la Torre was a junior double majoring in Inter– national Business and Management who was able to use what she learned in school to benefit the Jesus P roject. "It has helped me to improve activities management," de la Torre said . 'We organize the activities ourselves, there is no organization telling us 'You have to put up this amount of money and you have to do this and that.' So we have to organize everything . From a management perspective that has helped me." Steven Chandler Seniors Estephany Estrada, Carolina Cardona and sophomore Carlos Avendano pose June 18, 2009 with children in EI Sa lvador. The Jesus Project supported 250-350 students during the 2009-10 schoo l year. Courtesy of Lucero Gutierrez Senior Gibran Velasquez and two liHle girls smile for the camera on June 20, 2009. As a part of the Jesus Project. Harding studen ts p rovided children in EI Salvador with school supp lies and uniforms. Courtesy of Lucero Gutierrez service 237
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