96 I Academics Building the Camaraderie Honors College strives for higher learning and focuses on friendships Junior Zachary Wimer falls backward as other honors students stand to catch him at a retreat at Crowley's Ridge Youth Camp Sept. 14-16. The purpose of the retreat was to promote team spirit by playing activities such as the "Trust Fall." Courtesy ofJillian Jennings est.1989 Honors College 1,020 students 117 courses Each year at the beginning of the fall semester, the Honors Council went on a retreat where members participated in games and teambuilding exercises and planned projects for the upcoming year. During the Sept. 14-16 retreat, members participated. in the usual events but also planned ways to support Camp Wyldewood, a local Christian camp, both financially and physically. Honors Council president junior Abby Stilwell said during the retreat junior Kate Scherer, who worked at Camp Wyldewood, informed the group that fewer people were able to go to the camp because of the economic recession, so the camp could not afford to offer as many scholarships for underprivileged campers. The Honors Council planned how it could raise money to contribute to the scholarships. Sophomore JP Baker said he was encouraged by the members' effort to find ways to help during the retreat. "The retreat was an incredibly effective way to come together as the Honors Council," Baker said. "We grew closer to one another, but more importantly we identified our goal of becoming closer to the Honors College at large. That weekend proved to me just how much potential the Council has." With the help of CAB's creativity in fundraising, the Honors Council decided to host a change drive competition between the 9 a.m. chapel and the 10 a.m. chapel in November. Sophomore April Christy said the change drive provided a way for Harding students to reach outside of the university and to offer support to the Searcy community. "All of us felt as though we wanted to help the children of Searcy, and Camp Wyldewood gave us an opportunity," Christy said. "These kids wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it, so these scholarships really mean a lot to them." Stilwell said that the Honors Council did not want to merely offer financial assistance but also wanted to involve itself with Camp Wyldewood on a more personal level. "We also wanted to make sure we were very present in what we were doing and not just raising money for it," Stilwell said. "So we organized work days where we could go out there and do some work." Earlier in the year, Lowe's, the home improvement store, named Camp Wyldewood a "Hometown Hero" and donated supplies for repairs and expansions to the camp. Stilwell said this opened doors for new projects that the Honors Council could participate in. The Honors Council continued working with Camp Wyldewood throughout the spring semester to provide physical and financial assistance. With the Honors Council's help, Camp Wyldewood was able to offer an increased number of scholarships, and Harding students were able to reach out to the Searcy community. Matt Ryan
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