14
September
2019
|
13:53 PM
America/Chicago

Gators Help Houstonians During Day of Service

Summary

By Mike Emery

On Sept. 14, hundreds of University of Houston-Downtown faculty, staff members, students and friends lent a hand to seniors in Houston's Fifth Ward during GatorServe.

GatorServe is a twice-a-year event aimed at helping Houstonians. This fall's day of service was conducted to honor the heroes and victims of Sept. 11.

The day kicked off at Boyce-Dorian Park, where volunteers gathered to hear remarks from UHD President Dr. Juan Sánchez Muñoz and Houston City Council members Jack Christie and Jerry Davis. Groups of students then dispersed to assigned homes in the community to assist residents with general chores such as gardening, yard work, general cleanup and painting.

In addition to members of the UHD family, Houston's Roof Repair Squad provided complimentary services to selected homes, and TDECU employees volunteered their time.

GatorServe takes place each fall as a tribute to Sept. 11 and each spring in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.