FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield University student-athletes spruce up downtown Mansfield in Sweep the Streets Day

MANSFIELD – Downtown Mansfield is a lot nicer lately because of the efforts of more than 80 Mansfield University student-athletes who volunteered to make a difference in their community as part of “Sweep the Streets” Day on April, 6.

Eighty-three Mountaineer student-athletes, along with a number of coaches, literally hit the streets from Pump N' Pantry to CVS on Main Street to Cooper's Sporting Goods on Wellsboro Street.

Descending on the downtown business district, the group washed windows, picked up trash, and swept sidewalks and parking lots for a grateful business community.

The project was the brainchild of senior sprint football player Mike Wang as part of as his Applied Leadership Project in fulfillment of requirements to complete his minor in Leadership Studies. 

The minor in Leadership Studies provides students an opportunity to study, apply and synthesize interdisciplinary perspectives of leadership. 

The purpose of the applied leadership project is to develop and demonstrate an understanding of leadership principles and processes by initiating and implementing a strategic change plan that substantively aids a new or existing group or organization to move towards its goals and actualize its vision.

“I wanted to do something that would enhance the community as well as provide a service opportunity for student-athletes,” said Wang who was an All-CSFL selection at free safety this season.

Once Wang had a concept in mind, he set out to make it a reality. First he got student-athletes to buy into the project through the MU Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) advised by Mansfield University Athletic Mentor Chris Cummings.

Next he talked with athletic team leaders and members of the Mansfield business community and was somewhat surprised by the warm reception he received from both groups.

Then he spoke to Ryan Wood, the custodial and Grounds Manager for the MU facilities department who agreed to donate much of the cleaning supplies.

Finally he got support from Papa V's, Pump N' Pantry and Pizza Hut in providing pizza when the work was done.

“I'm kind of a quiet person,” said Wang. “So it was hard at first to go and talk to all the different groups and ask them to support the project. But everyone I talked with was so supportive and pleased to help that it didn't seem like work at all.”

On Saturday afternoon, 83 student-athletes made up from members of the field hockey, football, women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, and women's swimming teams as well as coaches hit the streets with brooms, garbage bags, and squeegees in hand in a well-coordinated offense against the accumulated dirt and grime of winter.

Two hours later the group had literally swept through downtown washing scores of windows and filling more than a dozen extra-large trash bags full of trash and dirt.

“I was pretty impressed with the effort,” said Wang. “I think the best thing was all the people who stopped and thanked us or honked and gave us the thumbs up.”

While the Mansfield community benefitted greatly from the project, Wang saw redeeming benefits for him and his fellow student-athletes.

“It was a real learning experience for me,” said Wang. “It gave me a lot of confidence that I could plan and organize a major activity and I was very proud of my fellow student-athletes. No one complained the whole time and some of the underclassmen are already planning to do it again next year.”
Note -- Supervisor of this leadership project and Coordinator of the Leadership Minor is Dr. Gretchen Sechrist.  For more information about the leadership minor or the “Sweep the Streets” project, see http://www2.mansfield.edu/leadership-studies/