March 8 Bobcat Build registration deadline looms

Posted by: Jayme Blaschke
Date: 2007-03-07

San Marcos will sparkle March 31 as more than 3,000 Texas State University-San Marcos students work at about 100 jobsites around town as a way to say "thank you" to the community that has become their second home.

The Bobcat Build Student Planning Organization, made up of Texas State University students who run the year-round program, have extended the student participation registration deadline for the fifth annual event to Thursday, March 8.

"It is incredibly rewarding to give back to the community, and it's a lot of fun," said Laura Ruiz, Bobcat Build Community Involvement committee chairperson, who added that 110 jobsites are on-line for community beautification, neighborhood clean-ups and other service tasks.

Student organizations and individuals are invited to participate in the university's annual community service day, which starts with a Kick-Off Rally at Bobcat Stadium Parking lot near Strahan Coliseum featuring country western band Texas Renegade.

There, volunteers receive a free breakfast and t-shirt, job assignments and tools needed.

Participation forms are available on line at www.bobcatbuild.txstate.edu and in the LBJ Student Center on the 4th Floor at the Campus Activities Front Desk and at the Community Relations Office at the River House.

Jobsites include neighborhood beautification, washing school buses, painting homes, yard work, assisting United Way of Hays County agencies, playground repairs, graffiti clean ups, checking light bulbs for Sights and Sounds of Christmas, trail building and more.

"Bobcat Build day is one of my favorite days of the year," said San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz. "This is a wonderful way for our community to get to know Texas State students as they work to make San Marcos a better place for all. Students provide labor for projects that would take weeks for these organizations and schools to do themselves and put a great face on the university."

Bobcat Build participants have also helped to build Habitat for Humanity homes and actually see the finished house with its new owners.

"It's a very satisfying and rewarding experience," said Nancy Tunell, Bobcat Build Student Planning Committee director. "It is a lot of fun working with the other groups and seeing your end result."

Since its conception in the spring of 2003, it has grown from 700 students participating at 40 locations, to more than 3,000 students expected this year.

Bobcat Build was inspired by Texas A&M's "The Big Event" which has been an Aggie tradition for several decades.

For more information about Bobcat Build, visit www.bobcatbuild.txstate.edu, or call Community Relations at (512) 245-9645.