BSU Students Honor 9/11 With Care Packages for First Responders

Bowie State University students and staff came together in a powerful act of service and remembrance to honor the legacy of 9/11, uniting to support local first responders while learning about the lasting impact of that day on public safety and civic life. The event encouraged meaningful dialogue and hands-on service, allowing students to reflect on history while giving back to their community.

In partnership with project funders Transform Mid-Atlantic, 9/11 Day and AmeriCorps, BSU was selected as one of only five schools in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region to receive an AmeriCorps 9/11 grant supporting civic engagement.

The Office of Multicultural Programs & Civic Engagement organized the university’s first 9/11 Care Package Event, drawing an impressive 85 volunteers including about 70 students, 10 staff members and five community participants. The Office of Residence Life, under the leadership of Dr. Jaime Mercer, played a central role in recruiting student volunteers. Together, they assembled and distributed 300 care packages, with 100 each going to Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department (District 7) and Howard University Hospital. Each package included a bottle of water, a muffin, pretzels, peppermints and a handwritten note of appreciation reading: “Hello, D.C. First Responder. We see you. We value you. We honor you.”

Student enthusiasm was fueled by BSU’s Community Service Board under the leadership of Jonathan Macer, Office of Greek Life coordinator, and members of Greek organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., who showed up in full force to help kick off the day. The event also featured a reflective panel discussion with first responders, including Dr. Vereen Batten, who served at the Pentagon on 9/11. She shared her firsthand account of that day and discussed the lasting impact of vicarious trauma, reminding students and staff of the importance of caring for their mental health and seeking support from BSU’s Counseling Services when needed. In fact, Dr. Batton made a commitment to return before homecoming to lead a special training course with the Office of Residence Life student staff.

Many students, too young to remember 9/11, said the event helped bring history to life and sparked conversations about its ongoing influence on national security and daily life from TSA screenings to public safety measures. “This inaugural event gave students a chance to provide meaningful service while engaging in powerful dialogue with first responders,” said event organizer Dr. Keadrick Peters, Office of Multicultural Programs & Civic Engagement and adjunct professor in the Department of Behavioral Science. “It inspired them to explore how they can continue honoring first responders throughout the year.”

The Office of Multicultural Programs & Civic Engagement plans to make the 9/11 Care Package Event an annual tradition. Upcoming service opportunities include the Race for Service (Nov. 20), the MLK Day of Service (January) and the Bulldog Read Program (December), where students, staff, alumni and community members can participate in hands-on and virtual projects that support communities in need. To get involved or learn more about upcoming service events, please submit this form.