Several Pfeiffer University students spent part of their winter break in Wilmington serving organizations whose missions are to combat hunger and homelessness in Wilmington and surrounding communities. Over the course of the three-day trip coordinated by the Francis Center for Servant Leadership, students volunteered with Wilmington Habitat for Humanity, Good Shepherd Center and Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
“We helped build a house, cleaned dormitories and packaged rice into family-sized bags,” said senior Brittney Quaranto. “The trip was the experience of a lifetime and definitely made me appreciate all that I have.”
The service opportunity, an example of alternative fall, winter and spring break trips available every year through the Francis Center to Pfeiffer students, prompted participants to devise a new motto: Eat, Sleep, Serve!, which will apply to similar trips in the future.
“The trip to Wilmington provided a variety of experiences for meaningful service to the community,” said Matthew Humphries, alternative break coordinator for the Francis Center. “The students returned knowing their participation made a difference for the families of Wilmington.”
Catawba College has launched a new online interactive map as part of a new mobile-friendly, rich map-based experience for students and visitors wanting to explore the Catawba campus virtually.
Thanks to a generous gift from a longtime friend of the college, Catawba has upgraded the online and print versions of its campus map. The work, recently completed with the assistance of Boulder, Colo.-based concept3D and its Campus Bird platform, provides new, up-to-date details about Catawba’s 41-building, 276-acre campus.
The new interactive campus map, available at www.catawba.edu/explore includes 3D models, 2D graphic overlays, custom streetview photos, videos, tours and more. Thanks to concept3D’s CampusBird interactive map manager, the college now has an easy-to-use and intuitive editing platform that allows upgrades to be made to the map as they are made to grounds and facilities on campus.
“For Catawba, this new interactive map allows us to deliver a compelling, campus experience to prospective students and their families, as well as to alumni and friends of the college, who may not be able to visit our campus in person,” explained Catawba web designer Maegen Worley. “Updated Google streetview images that showcase many campus buildings are also a new feature that we are anxious to share with virtual visitors.”
“Supporting clients with the solutions to effectively provide their end-users with a rich map-based experience is the ultimate goal for the CampusBird platform and our multimedia production team” said Ruston McGarr, president and chief operating officer of concept3D.
Concept3D Inc. is a web, mobile and geolocation software development company. It offers professional multimedia services, custom software and web services, CampusBird interactive school maps, Atlas map management system and simuwatt energy analysis and assessment tools. Catawba has joined the list of higher education clients using concept3D’s CampusBird platform. For more details visit: www.concept3D.com.
CONCORD — A middle school student is a work in progress. A child’s growing need for independence, coupled with his or her still-developing sense of self-confidence can mean a potentially tumultuous time for children and parents alike.
Charlotte area parents and their rising fifth- through eighth-grade children are invited to learn more about how the distinct developmental needs of middle school students are given careful consideration at Cannon School. “Exploring Middle School” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. on Cannon’s campus at 5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord.
Students will have a pizza lunch with current Cannon middle school students. Interested parents and students will meet with Head of Middle School Dr. Matthew Rush and the middle school deans, guidance counselor and director of innovation and technology.
Parents are encouraged to pre-register at www.cannonschool.org/openhouse.
First United Methodist Church Preschool, 217 S. Church St., is now accepting registration for the 2014-2015 school year. Registration for the 2-, 3- and 4-year-old classes may be picked up at the volunteer office at the Fisher Street entrance across from the mural at Wells Fargo Bank or by calling 704-636-8778.
Classes are filling quickly as classes have a small teacher-to-child ratio.