College of St. Scholastica hosts annual day of service

Fun, food, and giveaways were on display at the College of St. Scholastica as a part of their annual community day. Along with the fun, also came a day of service and engagement with several different organizations hosting events.

“The Red Cross is here working with students, teaching them hands-only CPR, teaching them a little bit about international humanitarian law, and giving people a chance to say thanks to our local service members and veterans,” said Dan Williams, Executive Director of American Red Cross Serving Northern Minnesota.

CSS nursing students like senior Myron Oswald volunteered their time to assist the Red Cross in demonstrating proper techniques when it comes to CPR. “In my nursing classes, we talk about like, community and community needs and such. And through what I have been looking at through data, I have noticed that hands-only CPR, blood drives, and everything that the Red Cross does is essentially things that this community needs. So, I feel volunteering and helping with the Red Cross is a way to improve our and build a stronger community.”

Oswald also mentioned that, “when the students came in and talked about or and we taught them hands-only CPR, I would say only like half of them before we taught the course, knew what hands-only CPR was. So I feel like if only half of the population or half of the community knows CPR.

When it comes to the Red Cross, members are pleased to see the interaction of newer students taking part in the learning experience, as they learn to find their path within both the school and the communities they live. “I think one of the things that’s important in going through higher education is learning to be a leader, learning to be a member of the community. So, of these freshman students who are here participating today, 100 of them were able to see seniors who are in the same class, a program, or people who have graduated already and see them having grown as leaders and been part of the community, I think it really gives them an example that they can learn to live up to,” Williams explained.

Students also got to make cards and posters for the Northland honor flight participants and for veterans that will be on display at the University of Minnesota Duluth men’s military appreciation hockey game on Saturday, November 11th.