Volunteers from the community hiked up to Eicher Barn on Sunday to mark Volunteer USI’s one millionth hour of service in a day-long cleanup event: Spruce Up.

USI students, alumni, faculty, high school students and many more joined members of the organization to clean up and decorate the barn and the surrounding areas including the walking paths and Bent Twig Amphitheatre.

Evansville Mayor Jonathon Weinzapfel recognized the achievements of Volunteer USI, an organization made up of USI alumni and community members who want to help the university and the community at large, by officially declaring April 17 Volunteer USI Day.

President Linda Bennett was present to read the mayor’s official proclamation, and to offer her own congratulations to the hard-working volunteers.

“This is really special,” Bennett said after her speech, “that so many individuals would come out here on this lovely day to make this university succeed is honestly moving.”

Bennett noted that while this event might be getting a lot of attention, Volunteer USI has done so much more to improve the campus.

“They help with science labs, at sporting events, there are volunteers in every aspect of campus life,” she said.

Some of the Spruce Up activities included setting up benches, raking, planting fruit trees and cleaning trails.

A number of students and student groups also participated: the Biology Club, business fraternity Beta Alpha Psi, Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Pi, among others.

One such student was senior James Hines, who was very enthusiastic about the opportunity to volunteer.

“I want to do my part to help out and represent my fraternity (Sigma Pi) and school,” Hines said.

“It’s awesome how many people showed up. It really shows how much people care about this campus.” 

Another person who was very enthusiastic was Lloyd Jost, president of Volunteer USI, who happened to be manning the grill that day.

“Everyone here is very dedicated. We never have trouble getting people to volunteer. We are excited to have reached our millionth hour and look forward to doing more work on campus and in the community,” he said.

Jost is not only the president, but was also the first recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award in 1996, when the organization was just starting.

One million hours later, the organization has high hopes for USI.

Member Cindy Bippus, who has been volunteering at USI since before there was an official organization, is looking forward to the future.

“We are doing all we can here and are now celebrating one million hours. We want to make this an annual event; there is always something to do,” Bippus said.

“It’s a labor of love for all of us.”