Otterbein First-Years "Plunge" into Westerville

More than 300 freshmen, or “first-years” as Otterbein refers to them, arrived in Westerville last month to start their college journey. Their introduction is formalized with a University-led event to initiate an early give-back to the community that will serve as their home for the next four years.

It’s called the annual “Community Service Plunge,” a program sponsored by Otterbein University’s Center for Community Engagement and managed by the department’s director and Otterbein associate dean, Dr. Melissa Gilbert.

“We want to set the stage of four years of service on their part,” said Dr. Gilbert. “Otterbein is an institution grounded in the notion that we’re here to serve the common good. We would like our students to understand the responsibilities they have to the world around them. For our first-year students, they are in a new city; this is an opportunity to make new friends, get connected locally and do something important.”

Dr. Gilbert says the plunge is centered on service opportunities in the local community that usually address an environmental or social issue. In the past, students have removed invasive honeysuckle and performed other parkland restorations. To enhance a sense of place, students have partnered with nonprofits, charitable organizations and government agencies to assist with programming essentials.

“The Plunge is part of what we call ‘First Flight’ for our new Cardinals when first-years come early before everyone else to campus,” said Dr. Gilbert. “Otterbein intentionally hosts them for three days for workshops, social events and an opportunity to meet their first-year seminar professor and more. The Plunge is always the culminating event of First Flight.”

Westerville Vice Mayor Kenneth L. Wright welcomed the freshmen to the 2022 Plunge on August 20, before they set out on their morning projects.

“I really want these students to embrace Westerville as their home during their time at Otterbein, and to engage with our community,” said Vice Mayor Wright. “The University, being so purposeful to emphasize community service, is good for Westerville, so we want Westerville to be good to these young adults and enrich the experience of leaving home for school for the first time.”

Keep up with all things Otterbein, visit www.otterbein.edu.

Thank you, Otterbein. These freshmen wear their “I Love Westerville” tees during the 2021 kickoff of the Service Plunge for community-service projects.