Last weekend the Fraser senior and his fraternity brothers from Sigma Alpha Epsilon helped clean up the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 621 S. Adams St., where Hunt met an older man and learned about the hard times he had been through.

“He gave us his story about (how) he was involved in divorce, losing a child, as well as moving from different regions in the United States,” Hunt said.

Although the man did not give Hunt his name, the volunteers took away a lot more than they expected.

“I learned that everyone ends up at a certain point in their life that they may not expect,” he added.

Saturday marked “Be My Neighbor Day” at Central Michigan University, where students clean up around CMU’s campus and the Mount Pleasant community.

Noble Elway Pegg, a Dearborn graduate assistant at CMU’s Volunteer Center, said Be My Neighbor Day is a capstone to National Volunteer Week.

“We send students all over Mount Pleasant so the students’ presence can be felt all over the city,” Pegg said.

Making a difference is an important way for students to meet other students, he said.

“It is a great way to help the Mount Pleasant community (and) it is more than just going to school here, it is about becoming an active citizen,” Pegg said.

About 100 students volunteered at different sites on Saturday including Goodwill, 1313 S. Mission St., and Isabella County Parks and Recreation, 200 N. Main St.

Royal Oak graduate student Caitlin Cavanaugh was a site coordinator for volunteers who prepared fleece blankets for children in the foster care system.

“The (children) can take with them (the blankets) from home to home, so by giving them a fleece blanket with a CMU ribbon tied to it they get both a college positive message and something that they can take with them to their future homes and residences,” she said.

Cavanaugh said the group has been working with the Children and Family Enrichment Council. It had made 80 blankets so far.

“It is a great thing to give them from CMU,” she said. “They are two yards by two yards and really easy to make so they are a really fun, social activity.”

-Charlotte senior Karly Caudell was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by the Phi Sigma Sigma social sorority.
Kelli Ameling: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Karly Caudell: There are so many things. I am really honored to be a person to uphold the standards of Central and represent them. I love Homecoming, so I am really excited to go to the activities and create new memories not only with the rest of the Homecoming Ambassadors, but with everyone and just see how excited everyone is.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
KC: To represent Central and all that it stands for. Just to be an example of someone who is taking advantage of everything that Central has to offer and showing how much Central does have to offer. (I want to show) how much you can take advantage of everything they have on campus. (I am) just proud to represent Central and Homecoming.

-Kentwood senior Mara D’Amico was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by Kesseler Hall Council.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Mara D’Amico: Being an ambassador just represents encompassing everything Central has to stand, being a role model for you fellow students, and being proud to be a Chippewa. I definitely think that I am proud to be a Chippewa.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
MD: I am a RA and I work with a lot of transfer students. A lot of them don’t know the resources that are available to them or really what to do to take advantage of their time at CMU. Since I am graduating this year, I can say that I have taken advantage of everything that CMU has to offer. I have gotten involved with things that I am passionate about. If I can spread that to other people and help them to become passionate about CMU, enjoy their time and make of most their time here, it will be worth it.

-Iron River junior Erica Lake was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by Barnes Hall Council.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Erica Lake: I feel like it exemplifies the CMU spirit of the 10 individuals that are nominated and just the passion that they have for Central. I think in that respect it is an honor to be noticed for the passion they have for Central.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
EL: It would just be an amazing honor and I feel like it would be so excited to represent the university that I love so much.

- Rochester senior Jessica Parker was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity and the Sigma Sigma Sigma social sorority.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Jessica Parker: It shows that other people have recognized the work you have done on campus — (that it) is really worthwhile.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
JP: I am satisfied with just being in the top five. I think anyone that has made it this far, deserves to be chosen as Homecoming Ambassador. I am just happy to be part of the process.

- Livonia senior Emily Turbiak was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by Larzelere Hall.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Emily Turbiak: I think the significance would be the person who gets the position is a leader and is a person who represents CMU in all the good ways by performing academically and outside of academics. Another thing is a strong role in diversity; that is what CMU tries to strive for. It’s a very prominent position. It should be looked highly upon and not taken lightly by the person who gets nominated.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
ET: I want it because I definitely think that I am someone who promotes diversity. I am a Multicultural Advisor in Herrig Hall and I try to learn more about different cultures every day. Luckily I live in a residence hall with international students in it so, each and every day, I get to see new international students and learn more about their culture. Culture has always been interesting for me. I was involved with Mid-American Model United Nations and having to step in the shoes of another country. It has helped me as a Multicultural Advisor and working with students.

-Muskegon junior Dave Breed was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by the CMU Program Board.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Dave Breed: It’s nice because it’s recognition of all the work that I do and nice that I am being recognized for that. It feels really good to show that the work I have done has actually made a difference. Also, I think that being in this position has let me do a lot more. Being elevated to this level, I feel like I can have more of an impact now. I’ll be increasing the work I do from here on out.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
DB: It would open a lot of opportunities for me to do more meaningful work, to get out in the university community and to be a little better known. I have a lot of things to offer and this is the perfect opportunity to showcase those things.

-Nepal junior Pratik Chhetri was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Pratik Chhetri: The whole point of being Homecoming Ambassador, for me, was to be a representative of the campus. I have a pretty good academic background and I’m involved in different organizations. I do research on campus, which has been presented in different international level contests. I have already represented CMU (in that way). Being able to represent CMU is a great opportunity. I bring diversity to the campus. It’s a great opportunity and lots of responsibility, but I’m ready for that.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
PC: I want to show that CMU is a nice platform for even undergraduates to show their skills. Personally, I am from a different country, environment and culture, and even I can achieve these goals. For me, CMU was an excellent platform for me to improve my ability.

- Macomb senior Scott Hillman was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Scott Hillman: I am not one person to ask for a lot of recognition or appreciation for the work I do, (but) this is a nice and extreme way of getting a piece recognition.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
SH: It will keep me motivated to keep me working as hard as I do. Knowing people appreciate the work I do, I’d keep it up.

-Bad Axe junior Kyle Post was nominated for Homecoming Ambassador by the Sigma Kappa social sorority.
KA: What is the significance of being nominated for this position?
Kyle Post: The significance is that it is kind of surreal, because there are so many people on this campus. You have to remember that out of all those people in the organization that can actually nominate people, you made it to the top five positions. So it is really a surreal position to be in.
KA: Why do you want to get this position?
KP: At the moment, I am in a position where I feel truly blessed to be in the position I am. It was nice to be able to express the way I feel about CMU the way I got to through the application process. So I feel blessed that I even got to express how I feel about CMU as a whole rather than being someone who should have this position.