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L-r: Tommy Warfield, Samantha Lyerly, Liz Hammerschmidt and Jim Thomson work to fill sandbags.
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Blake Combs of Macomb, left, was one of 18 students from a summer class in communication who assisted with sandbagging efforts in Niota (IL).
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Front row, l-r: Samantha Lyerly, Liz Hammerschmidt. Second row, l-r: David Sharer, Greg Meyer, James Thoenen, Brandon Meyer, Blake Combs, Sarah Fargusson. Back row, l-r: Tommy Warfield, Dana Skiles, Stephen Moore, Todd Speight, Jim Thomson, Trishia Jones, Sam Waldo.
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WIU Communication Students Volunteer to Help with Flooding

June 23, 2008

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MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University students took time out of their summer-school schedules to volunteer to help with the approaching flood waters.

More than 20 volunteers, 18 of them from Dave Zanolla's Communication 241 "Introduction to Public Speaking" class, were on hand to help with sandbagging in
Niota (IL).

Zanolla said that when he realized the flood may surpass the 1993 levels he decided he wanted to organize a group to help.

"I am always looking to incorporate new assignments to achieve my learning objectives, which in this case support the University's core values of social responsibility and personal growth. My class was extremely positive about the opportunity, and it was encouraging to see how these students understood the gravity of the situation at hand. Now, as part of an assignment in the course, each student who attends will present a brief presentation revolving around what they learned through serving, and, hopefully, how they were impacted by the experience," Zanolla said.

Zanolla and his family currently live in Carthage; his wife grew up in Hamilton; and his father-in-law works at the lock and dam on the Mississippi River. Hamilton and Niota are two Hancock county towns affected by the swelling of the Mississippi River.

Students saw what they were fighting first hand when a Niota resident, and an organizer of volunteers, showed them the levees with approaching waters.

"I was blown away by the work ethic of everyone who attended. Throughout the day, the students showed me that even though it was their summer vacation, they were excited to be there and help. When there are people in need in the WIU community, the students, faculty and staff will move to meet those needs," Zanolla said.

"I was happy to help. I know many of them would have come to help us if we were in need," freshman Blake Combs (Macomb) said.

Volunteers included: freshman Blake Combs (Macomb); communication office manager Terri Coplan; junior Kelly Decorrevont (Deerfield, IL); senior Sarah Fargusson (Macomb); freshman Liz Hammerschmidt (Tinley Park, IL); senior Amy Hueneburg (Peru, IL); sophomore Trishia Jones (Princeton, IL); junior Samantha Lyerly (Huntley, IL); senior Brandon Meyer (Quincy, IL); junior Greg Meyer (Quincy, IL); junior Stephen Moore (Tampa, FL); senior Tom Pigg (Mount Vernon, IL); senior Barry Reed (Elmwood); junior David Sharer (Fulton, IL); sophomore Dana Skiles (Geneseo, IL); freshman Todd Speight (Bradenton, FL); sophomore Jim Thompson (Matteson, IL); sophomore James Thoenen (Rushville, IL); Sam Waldo (non-student); senior Tommy Warfield (Kewanee, IL) and Zanolla.

Posted By: Alisha Looney (AA-Looney@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing