OU Students Lead Beautification Project While Studying Abroad

Thirty-seven student members of the University of Oklahoma President’s Community Scholars (PCS) dedicated a portion of their summer to revitalizing a historic gym in Arezzo, Italy.

Each year, PCS, administrated by the Office of Leadership Development and Volunteerism, a branch of the OU Division of Student Affairs, provides resources and support for community service projects.

Through OU in Arezzo, scholars are immersed into Italian culture and, through this connection, are presented with the service needs of the area to engage in outreach activities.

During an analysis, La Società Dilettantistica Ginnastica “F. Petrarca” in Arezzo was chosen as this year’s service project in Arezzo.

The gym was built in 1927 and has been the training site for thousands of athletes.

This mission allows OU student volunteers to show their appreciation through service, similar to The Big Event, OU’s official day of community service, but on a global scale.

“The PCS Alumni trip to Italy provided me with friendships, memories, and a way to responsibly and creatively engage in service with the Arezzo community,” said Betsy Rasplicka, an OU sophomore studying marketing. “This trip reinforced my love of meeting new people, experiencing different cultures and the joy I feel when serving others.”

The space is a very personal one to the community in Arezzo.

“Our thanks go to the University of Oklahoma for having led this volunteer project,” said Simone Rossi, president of Ginnastica Petrarca. “The gym is our home. It is the place where our athletes grow up and where they spend many hours every day; it is the first place to become passionate about sport and where to cultivate their dreams.”

Carried out in two phases, members of PCS applied fresh paint to all rooms of the structure, which include practice areas, hallways, changing rooms, railings, and an outdoor structure. The colors and designs were inspired by the history of Petrarca Gymnastics.

“I grasped new skills, tools and knowledge from Italian life to better myself in ways not possible without this first-hand experience,” said Carson Winters, a junior majoring in finance and entrepreneurship. “It was truly an eye-opening blessing to have such a warm welcome and absorb the Arezzo locals’ burning passion to help their community.”

“This project pays homage to those members who built the gym almost 100 years ago, allowing our spaces to be welcoming and modern,” Rossi said.

“Supporting and working with our OU students is always a very rewarding thing. When we work together, you can feel the energy and the commitment,” said Lucio Bianchi Sereni, OU Arezzo student services coordinator. “The fun and exceptional skills that our students bring leaves an indelible mark on the history of Arezzo.”

“Renovation of the gymnasium premises is due to OU students who voluntarily become leaders of service projects,” said Federico Scapecchi, sports councilor of the Municipality of Arezzo.

PCS recorded a combined total of 1,000 service hours toward the renovation project while having an introductory experience of Italian language and culture, attending classes related to community service and activism, and learning about ancient art objects of the region through site visits.

“The President’s Community Scholars are an example of OU students who are dedicated to learning through service. As a result of their time spent studying abroad, our students gained a deeper appreciation and knowledge of Italian culture and history, and moreover, through this restoration project of the historic Petrarca Gymnasium, they gained an even deeper level of community-engaged learning and meaningful connection to the city of Arezzo,” said David Surratt, OU vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “I am grateful to the community in Arezzo for allowing our students to participate in such meaningful work.”

The student participants gained as much as they gave through the experience.

“I am thankful to have participated in this service project with President’s Community Scholars,” said Abigail Lam, an OU junior majoring in biology. “It was a wonderful opportunity to show my gratitude toward Arezzo by getting involved in the community.”

To learn more about study abroad opportunities at OU, click here. To help fund future OU in Arezzo opportunities for students, click here.

This article was originally published by the Division of Student Affairs.