Jacksonville, AL – On September 21, students from Jacksonville State University’s (Jax State) Honors Program took part in a significant environmental initiative, collecting over 500 pounds of trash from Jacksonville Creek in just two hours. The group of 11 students participated in the annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup, a statewide event aimed at removing litter from Alabama’s waterways and beaches as originally reported by Brett Buckner with the JSU media department.
Leading the effort was Nate Adams, Chairman of the Honors Program Service Committee. Adams, who is passionate about environmental stewardship, saw the cleanup as an ideal chance to restore the creek’s natural beauty. “The stream was certainly in need of cleanup, especially under the bridges where homeless people often hang out,” Adams noted. Volunteers encountered a variety of debris, including grocery bags entangled in shrubbery and an array of Styrofoam, cans, and plastic scattered along the banks.
The Honors students demonstrated dedication, spreading out along the creek to maximize their impact. Some even waded into the water to retrieve trash caught along the edges, as freshman Jackson Clements shared. “We had a couple of volunteers go knee-deep in the creek to grab floating debris,” said Clements, who was among the event organizers. “It felt rewarding to spend a part of our Saturday morning doing something meaningful for the environment.”
Freshman Kendall England was struck by the sheer volume of garbage they collected. “I never imagined that even smaller waterways could accumulate so much trash,” England said. “It was an eye-opener, showing me how every little action leaves a footprint on our community.”
The cleanup not only made an immediate impact on Jacksonville Creek but also inspired future plans for the Honors Program. Mark Sciuchetti, Interim Senior Director of Honors and Special Programs, is eager to see this initiative continue. “I’m hoping that this will become an annual effort,” he said. “We want to use the Honors Program as a platform to organize more cleanups, bringing in students from all across campus to make a difference.”
The Jax State students joined thousands of volunteers across the state for the 2024 Alabama Coastal Cleanup, collectively striving to protect and preserve Alabama’s natural waterways.
Volunteers who participated in the cleanup:
- Caden Montgomery
- Ryan Nix
- Jaden Holland
- Jackson Clements
- Mohamad Hamdan
- Nate Adams
- Callie Stewart
- Kari Gardner
- Kendall England
- Natalie Wingo
- Sassy Pilkington
The event underscores the Honors Program’s commitment to community service and environmental care, a mission that the group is excited to continue in the coming years.
