Penn State DuBois remembers Sept. 11, honors legacy through day of service

DUBOIS — Penn State DuBois commemorated the 22nd anniversary of Sept. 11 with a solemn memorial event and a heartwarming day of service, highlighting the campus’s commitment to honoring the past and serving the local community.

The memorial event took place on campus at the Schoch Plaza, where the flagpoles are that always display the United States and Pennsylvania flags, as well as the veterans memorial. Students, faculty and staff gathered to remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. The Penn State DuBois community paid their respects by observing a moment of silence.

Two days prior, on Sept. 9, Penn State DuBois students worked with the Soul Platter Café in DuBois, a “pay what you can” establishment where individuals and families can take in the “restaurant” experience and not be turned away if they don’t have enough or even any money to pay for what they receive. In a day of service that showcased the power of giving back, students rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside the cafe staff to prepare food for those in need.

Hannah Allen, a thirdyear human development and family studies major student at Penn State DuBois, was one of the students who participated in the day of service. Reflecting upon the service, Allen said it was eye opening and very impactful.

“It’s very easy to forget that issues exist in our community, such as people not having easy access to the food they need,” Allen said. “Being able to get out and serve our community, and to help those in need, it was a very gratifying experience that I’ll definitely remember.”

“It is such a blessing to have the youth volunteer and pitch in with various tasks at the Café,” Crystal Rishell of the Soul Platter Café said. “What a wonderful way to fulfill our mission of providing service to those in the community.”