By Brooke Heath, Southern Utah University
Dozens of Southern Utah University (SUU) students, faculty, and staff traveled to Beaver, Utah, on Saturday, Sept. 12 to lend a hand in flood recovery efforts as part of 9/11 National Day of Service. Following recent, severe monsoonal flooding in the Beaver area after the devastating Cottonwood Fire, SUU volunteers rallied together to do what they do best: showed up to help.
Organized by the SUU Community Engagement Center (CEC) in partnership with Beaver City, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Salvation Army, the service day brought together volunteers dedicated to helping neighboring families clear thick mud, waterlogged debris, and damaged structures from impacted properties. By connecting campus resources directly to local needs, the effort highlights SUU’s ongoing commitment to regional partnership and community-centered service.
“When our neighboring communities face challenges, our students don’t hesitate to step up,” said Pam Branin, Director of SUU’s Community Engagement Center. “This service effort reflects the heart of the SUU experience by putting our values into action. We are building meaningful relationships, and showing that we are all stronger when we support one another.”
The volunteer trip provided students with free transportation, t-shirts, and meals, making it easy for participants to focus their energy entirely on supporting the project at hand. Beyond clearing physical debris, the service effort gave SUU students a practical opportunity to engage in meaningful community leadership outside the classroom.
Through hands-on service initiatives, the SUU Community Engagement Center regularly connects students with civic partnerships, leadership roles, and experiential learning projects across southern Utah. For more information about community service opportunities or regional partnership programs at Southern Utah University, visit www.suu.edu/cec.
