Thanks! Plain and Simple

From Our Students

Students are eager to help. Often, they require guidance. Perhaps when you return, you can help us coordinate this valuable resource. Many high schools and colleges give credit for community participation, and we hope to display art, include history contests, encourage a variety of music, and learn and teach about economic possibilities and realities. We will include some at annual Thanks! Plain and Simple Days, starting this year, and on a DVD to you and on this site.

So far, these are students who are taking part in helping to communicate with you:

College / University Students:

Stephanie Harrison, a student at West Virginia University Tech in Montgomery, has worked with us through a Community Service credit, to help us contact 55 counties and begin finding photos and other contributions from around the state, fall semester, 2005.

Professor Jack Skeens’ two advertising classes at West Virginia State University, Institute, have created about 10 advertisements for Thanks! Plain and Simple. Many of these students will continue developing ads a second semester, ending May, 2006.

On this initial version of our site are these three of their ads: 1) The porch under “We Keep on the Lights,” 2) troops leaving in “From Our Heavier Side,” and 3) The coffee cup and pens at “Let’s Create.”

Katherine Ridenour has volunteered beyond their class assignments

Jimmy Wade Jones, Dean at the University of Charleston. He has begun to advise and look for students for different tasks, beginning Jan., 2006.

Debbie Nash, a senior in Professor T. Ford Ahmeds’ Writing for Public Relations class at West Virginia State University is preparing an article now.

Emmitt Schneider, West Virginia University freshman. He submitted the photo taken by his mother, Eileen Dumire, when he returned from his duty in Iraq, which is under “Coming Home.” We love this photo and see it as part of our message and our hope for your future.

Zoe McMorris*, Marshall University freshman, will submit an article about her adaptation back to civilian life and her hope for Thanks! Plain and Simple. She has also helped us edit this web site. She served as a journalist in the US Army.

High School Students:

Winfield High School, jazz band, under Scott Woodard’s direction. He is manuscripting the theme song for their light-jazz performance at Thanks! Plain and Simple Day.

Winfield High School, advanced art, under David Pahl. He suggested to his students that they create art from the concepts and goals of Thanks! Plain and Simple.

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We will do more with students.

We look for a Volunteer Coordinator. Let us know if you know of someone for this role in your school or region. A savvy student will be considered.

Many students have signed up on Volunteer West Virginia, at www.Volunteerwv.org or come from other referrals.

We prefer to hear from you, directly, on our E-mail or by phone.

* Students on the G.I. Bill