With the federal holiday normally considered a "day off" for schools, Winthrop will
mobilize about 350 college students on Jan. 15 to conduct a "day on" community service
project. The project has been several months in the making. Between September and November,
Winthrop MLK team leaders worked to create bathroom design concepts for Castle Heights
Middle and Rock Hill High, while Springs Creative Products Group handled a design
concept for Belleview Elementary School. 
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Winthrop University's annual Day of Service on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday will focus this year on beautifying the bathrooms at three Rock Hill schools.
With the federal holiday normally considered a "day off" for schools, Winthrop will
mobilize about 350 college students on Jan. 15 to conduct a "day on" community service
project, said Shayna Foxworth, one of two AmeriCorps VISTA staff members coordinating the event.
"Our service project involves decorating the bathrooms in an elementary, middle and
high school with positive messages and art related to self-image and care and treating
others with respect," Foxworth said. "We hope this will make the bathrooms more welcoming,
inspirational and beautiful spaces."
The project has been several months in the making. Between September and November,
Winthrop MLK team leaders worked to create bathroom design concepts for Castle Heights Middle and Rock Hill High, while Springs Creative Products Group handled a design concept for Belleview Elementary School.
The MLK Student Leader volunteers will be at the three schools on Jan. 12 to deliver supplies and prepare the walls.
Then on Jan. 15, the Day of Service will begin at 9 a.m. as the college students will
gather at the Richardson Ballroom in the DiGiorgio Campus Center. They'll be divided into 46 teams and sent out to paint from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Some 350 Winthrop and Clinton College students will enter the schools to transform more than 45 bathrooms along with the Castle Heights and Rock Hill High School's "spirit rocks." Upon completion, they'll meet back at Winthrop to reflect on their service and celebrate
with lunch.
"By contributing more than 1,000 service hours, our MLK service teams can accomplish
a lot of work in a relatively small amount of time," Foxworth said.
Rock Hill High School students also have been invited to volunteer alongside the college
students.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or longshawj@winthrop.edu.
