Paul Paddock (center) and friends paint a hop-scotch game at Asheville Middle School

Some 600 UNC Asheville freshmen brightened a cloudy morning Tuesday, working across the city in sunny yellow t-shirts during the University's 12th annual community service day.

UNC Asheville's Active Citizenship Together (ACT) in Asheville Day brought together students, faculty and staff to tackle local revitalization and beautification projects. Students lent a hand at Asheville Middle and Vance Elementary schools, the South French Broad neighborhood, the YWCA of Asheville and the Botanical Gardens at Asheville. New this year, students also assisted the Asheville Housing Authority's elderly residents with enrolling in the Vial of Life Project, which provides easy-to-access and potentially life-saving health information for emergency officials.

"ACT in Asheville day is an excellent excuse for bringing our campus community together for one purpose," said Paul Paddock, 18, of Williamsburg Va. "I think UNC Asheville is doing a marvelous job of teaching us the importance of volunteering through this experience."

Students refresh the Asheville Middle School sign

Jordan Goodwin, 19, of Asheville, agreed.

"ACT in Asheville Day provides a different learning environment than sitting in the classroom. It's giving us a good start as freshmen," Goodwin said while taking a break from a painting project at Asheville Middle School. "We're learning about the city, benefiting local organizations, and focusing on the important priorities in life, like giving back and helping others."

Local agencies are grateful for the help, said Susan Roderick of Quality Forward, who was directing students as they trimmed and mulched trees along South French Broad Ave.

"This is a wonderful program and I always look forward to working with UNC Asheville students each fall," Roderick said. "It gets them out into the community right at the beginning of their college experience and provides a really big help to Quality Forward."

Volleyball player Lia Scott (right) wraps up a painting project at Asheville Middle School

ACT in Asheville Day is organized by UNC Asheville's Key Center for Community Citizenship and Service-Learning. The Key Center seeks to maximize the engagement of students with the community by encouraging student to undertake service projects, reflect on what they learned while volunteering, and to draw connections between what they learn in the community and what they learn in the classroom.

"Anyone can learn about education inequity or hunger, but how many of us actually take time to tutor a child or work at a food bank? To me, service-learning is getting inspired in the classroom enough to want to go out and make a difference," said UNC Asheville junior Lauren Avots, who served as student coordinator of ACT in Asheville Day. "Hopefully, through ACT in Asheville Day, the freshman class will be inspired to serve throughout their college careers."

Rachel McLarty pulls weeds during ACT in Asheville Day

Freshman Rachel McLarty, 18, of Asheville, got the message.

"This work day sets the example for students," said McLarty as she pulled weeds in front of Asheville Middle School. "In my first few weeks here I've already learned that UNC Asheville is all about bringing the campus and the city together."