Many of Howard Payne University’s incoming freshmen, along with several returning students and staff members, spent the last Saturday before classes began serving the Brownwood community. The university’s Serving With A Right Motive (S.W.A.R.M.) project is held each year in conjunction with Jacket Journey, HPU’s weeklong new-student orientation.

Approximately 140 volunteers, coordinated by Keep Brownwood Beautiful, completed community service projects at a variety of locations including Brownwood Area Community Garden, the Corinne T. Smith Animal Shelter and Lake Brownwood.

Francie Clark, HPU’s director of student activities, looks forward to S.W.A.R.M. each year.

“It’s great for our new and returning students to be able to bond as they serve others,” she said. “We’re very excited to welcome the Class of 2018 and to see the impact they continue to make in the community.”

Pictured at top: Ryan Weeks, foreground, a freshman from New Braunfels, was among the students serving at the Brownwood Area Community Garden.

Many new and returning students including Michael Bailey (pictured above), a sophomore from Georgetown, helped clear brush and debris from around Lake Brownwood. Photo by Colton McCabe, junior from Gatesville.

Kaeli Goodgion (above), a freshman from Comanche, was one of several students to help clean cages and walk dogs at the Corinne T. Smith Animal Shelter.