SHORELINES

27 a p c s hor e l i n e s.c om | 2015 Vol :3 last year, UAB chose the Valley Creek cleanup for its service component again this year. "Our students loved the experience. Getting our hands dirty and getting to be a part of the process was very beneficial, especially after we saw the amount of trash. The students could see the difference they were making and that made a lasting impression," said Mellissa Taylor, assistant director of honors advising and retention at UAB. For students new to the program and to the city of Birmingham, the UAB Honors College incorporates a service learning initiative as a key part of the retreat. "Service learning is a huge component of what we do in the Honors College. We want the incoming students to start off by giving back to the community that they are going to be a part of," Taylor said. The UAB Honors College is comprised of 1,300 students pursuing all majors at the university. "The trash was overwhelming and I can't imagine animals and plants being happy in this ecosystem," said volunteer Sarah Sullivan, a freshman at UAB. "We really felt that this was a really good cause and we are glad for the opportunity to come here." This was the fifth annual cleanup at Valley Creek and it took place at three locations: Midfield, Bessemer and downtown Birmingham. Valley Creek begins in downtown Birmingham and flows through Bessemer, ending at the mouth of the Black Warrior River. More than 300 local volunteers from the Water Management Authority Inc., Jefferson County Department of Health's Watershed Protections Division and the Freshwater Land Trust worked alongside the UAB student volunteers and others to remove 10.32 tons of debris and trash from Valley Creek during the three-day event. "It's about making the connection for our students. They see that they can make an impact on their community and it enhances their student experience as well," Taylor said. Renew Our Rivers continues to host cleanups across the state. So far this year, more than 2,800 volunteers have removed more than 110 tons of trash and debris from Alabama waterways. For more information on how you can volunteer with Renew Our Rivers, visit www.renewourrivers.com. – BY ANNA CATHER INE ROBERSON AND ALLISON WESTL AK E Above: Photo by wynTer Byrd — Students from Demopolis High School pitch in at a Renew Our Rivers cleanup.

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