On Saturday, April 28, over 300 Sterling College students, faculty, staff and community members joined together to serve the town of Sterling, Kansas, by participating in the event Love Sterling, a city-wide service day. The coordinator of Love Sterling, Erica Foss, assistant coordinator, Emily Fuller, and several students had been planning the event since January.

A record-breaking 44 projects were planned and completed for Love Sterling. Some of these projects included painting, landscaping, clearing away brush at the golf course, repainting the rodeo arena, cleaning and landscaping at Sterling Presbyterian Manor, the library and a couple churches in town, and projects at businesses such as Studio 96 and the American Legion building.

“Everybody worked really hard and had really positive attitudes throughout the day. I’m always impressed and amazed with how hard the students work, by how cheerful they stay and how much fun they all seem to be having. It really just goes to show that when you help others, you feel good about yourself too,” said Foss.

Overall, Love Sterling was a community effort with an estimated 1,320 man hours being given over the course of the day.

“Love Sterling is definitely a great way to show servant leadership to our community. I’ve had multiple comments back to me since the event from community members talking about how great their groups were, how thankful they are, and how much they enjoyed working with and meeting the students that came to their projects. So I think it is definitely a way to reach out and be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community,” said Foss.

Love Sterling was created nine years ago as a way for Sterling College students and employees to give back to the community that surrounds and supports them in many ways. The annual event is often looked forward to by students and community members alike.  

After all the work was done, supper was served at the lake with a live band, En Power and Light of Wichita, Kansas.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.