Portsmouth College Students Raise Funds and Compassion for Ukraine

Editor's note: This article was written by a Townsquare Media Northern New England contributor and may contain the individual's views, opinions or personal experiences.

I received a video from a very excited group of students in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Great Bay Community College was doing something really important by raising awareness and donations for affected communities in Ukraine.

Brittanie Mulkigian, director of Student Life at Great Bay Community College, said "the project was developed and executed by Great Bay Community College’s Student Government Association (SGA) and the International Club. Great Bay is host to students from over 20 different countries."

GBCC has one student from the Ukraine who has not spoken to her family since February 28, and another student from Russia who also has family in Ukraine.

Mulkigian goes on to say that "the two clubs wanted to do “something impactful” campus-wide and decided to work together."  The students combed through all the possibilities for relief efforts, and landed on Global Giving Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.

The SGA and International Club created a two-week campaign including free pizza, cupcakes for a donation, movie night, and maybe the best incentive for cash-strapped college students: for every $5 a student donated, they earned an entry for a free transferrable 4-credit class at GBCC.  The students and staff responded positively to relief efforts.

The Director of Student Life at GBCC added that "I am beyond proud and impressed with this group of students. This project has achieved so much more than raising money ($3,232.43); it has offered our students with opportunities for collaboration, engagement (we love seeing and hearing students in the Lobby after semesters of remote learning!), shared compassion, and opportunities to learn and discuss different cultures and world events."

The future is in good hands with the students of Great Bay Community College.