Photo Credits: Emily Tyler
For Arkansas Tech University students, Green and Gold Give Back is more than just a day of service: it is a chance to strengthen connections with the community and make a meaningful impact on the lives of Russellville residents.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, approximately 375 students dispersed to 38 locations across Russellville, performing tasks such as raking leaves, cleaning yards, and assisting with community projects. Students visited homes, parks, and local organizations to help beautify the areas and provide support where it was needed.
Fernando Flores, a student volunteer, said he signed up because “Green and Gold Give Back is a time-honored tradition.” He added that returning each year gives him the chance “to have fun, to make others happy, and create an example of what an ATU student should act like.”
Flores volunteered with the Student Government Association, which divided into smaller groups to help at several locations across the community. His group spent the morning supporting Joseph’s House, a small business created to support foster and adoptive families in Pope County, and working on yard beautification projects for Russellville residents who requested assistance.
Another volunteer, Oscar Perez, ATU’s Homecoming King, said taking part in the event felt like a natural extension of his involvement on campus. “I’ve always done community service since coming to Tech, so it felt natural to me to sign up for Green and Gold Give Back,” he said.
Missing last year’s event made him even more eager to participate this time, as he hoped the day would “form a stronger bond with both my executive and general members.”
Perez and his group visited three different sites throughout the morning, helping rake leaves, bag debris, and support other volunteers already working at Bona Dea Park. With fall leaves covering yards across Russellville, the team focused on helping residents maintain clean and welcoming outdoor spaces.
At their second stop, the homeowner greeted the group and thanked them for their help. She complimented their work and told them how grateful she was for the effort they put into improving her yard. An interaction that “made the experience especially meaningful,” Perez said.
With hundreds of students volunteering across the city, this year’s Green and Gold Give Back offered opportunities for connection, service, and collaboration between Arkansas Tech University and the Russellville community.
