Sensational Sophomores give back to campus

Group of students volunteer at Edible Garden for Alternative Spring Break

By California State University, Bakersfield

April 7^th, 2023

While most California State University, Bakersfield students were enjoying their break from classes this week, a group of students chose to spend that time serving the campus community.

The Sensational Sophomores program, which helps selected students develop their leadership skills and gain community service experience, continued its Alternative Spring Break initiative this year. The group decided to support the Edible Garden by building raised beds for produce to be planted in.

“I think it’s so important to support the Edible Garden because a lot of people on campus really struggle with food security,” said Gabriel Abboud, student president for the Sensational Sophomores. “This is a great opportunity to give back. Volunteering is how we can improve our campus.”

This is the second consecutive year that the Sensational Sophomores have decided to dedicate their Alternative Spring Break to the Edible Garden, located at the southeast corner of the campus. Students made and painted various signs last year, as well as helped develop an herb garden.

This year, students made a total of four raised produce beds, each of which provide 32 square feet of growing space, for a total of 128 square feet. That will allow the garden to grow hundreds of pounds of food for the campus community, according to Edible Garden Coordinator Joel Kirksey.

“We’re very appreciative of their hard work. Students really are the lifeblood of the garden,” he said.

Abboud — who has experience volunteering at local soup kitchens and homeless shelters — said he enjoyed his time working in the garden this week.

“I love being out here and making the beds,” he said. “It was a learning curve at first. Some of us didn’t have experience with drilling, so it was trial-and-error, but it’s been a lot of fun. We’ve really gotten to bond through the experience.”

For Brookelynn Reed, who was one of the lead volunteers last year, getting to know more people on campus was one of the main reasons she wanted to join the Sensational Sophomores program.

“I wanted to meet more people and build my leadership skills. I wanted to make more connections around campus,” she said. “I get to interact with a lot of people through volunteering, which has been great.”

Kirksey is grateful that the Sensational Sophomores decided to return to the Edible Garden for this year’s Alternative Spring Break project. He believes their work has made a significant difference for the garden.

“They could be relaxing at home or on vacation, but instead they’re choosing to spend this time to give back to the campus community,” he said. “Their help has gone to greatly improve our ability to grow food for students.”