To kick off the fall semester, fifteen softball student-athletes participated in the annual UK FUSION on Monday, August 21. The Wildcats assisted with registration, passed out information sheets and helped prepare bag lunches for the students attending the event.

UK FUSION is a one-day service event held during Kentucky Welcome Week. UK FUSION transports over 1000 students in groups of 10-20 from the UK campus into the Lexington community to complete a variety of service projects.

Each year UK FUSION volunteers positively impact community and non-profit agencies by providing over 2200 hours service in one day. Agencies participating in UK FUSION range from nursing homes and law offices to nature sanctuaries and homeless shelters.

UK FUSION is For Service and Unity in Our Neighborhoods and it’s an excellent way for new and returning students to get acquainted with UK faculty/staff and many UK student organizations. UK FUSION is a very popular fixture in the Kentucky Welcome schedule, giving UK students a chance to start the semester having fun and meeting new people while serving a community that has given so much to the University of Kentucky.

UK FUSION serves a diverse group of agencies and non-profits in the community every year. While many UK FUSION project sites involve physical labor, like landscaping or office maintenance, other agencies focus on promoting student interaction with residents, such as playing games with children or serving meals for the elderly. UK FUSION participants spend quality time with Lexington residents, forming new friendships and gaining a better appreciation and commitment to service in the community throughout the semester.

Goals of UK FUSION include building community among new students, upperclass students, faculty, and staff; reinforcing the bond between UK and Lexington; and reaffirming UK’s commitment to service, both on individual and institutional levels.

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