Beautiful Bonds: Honors College Plants Daffodils, Harvests Community

Content

Photo by Jack Bertling

On September 3rd, Commonwealth Honors College families, friends and staff came together for the annual daffodil planting.

The event opened with Honors College associate dean Ann Marie Russell, who spoke about why the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community (CHCRC) hosts this annual gathering. 

Image

Associate dean Ann Marie Russell speaking at the daffodil planting, Photo by Sierra Dale

Russell stated, “Daffodils were dean Priscilla Clarkson's favorite flower. Her vision for this place was a place where students could live, learn, grow and just thrive together. Sadly, she passed away from cancer while serving as dean, but this tradition allows us to carry her legacy forward.”

After Russell’s introduction, Jen Konieczny from the landscaping department at UMass gave instructions on what everyone was going to plant and how. Students, staff and family were given their gloves, shovels, buckets and the locations they could plant.

Community Engagement

Students and faculty members were seen planting together. Junior public health sciences major Vanessa Mensah, along with Judi LaBranche, a senior lecturer in kinesiology, took the event as a bonding opportunity. Mensah spoke about being a residential assistant in CHCRC, and how she gets to work with LaBranche in her role as faculty in residence. 

Mensah said, “It was nice being able to give to our campus and also spend time with Judi.”

Vanessa Mensah and Judi Bruno LaBranche plant daffodils, Photo by Matthew Medeiros

There were Insomnia Cookies available for all attendees, as well as raffle prizes and free CHC merch. Groups of students attended the planting together, with one student stating, “My favorite part has been getting to plant with my friends. And honestly, we're just excited to see our results in the spring. And the cookies!” . 

Finding Beautiful Meaning in Building Community

Honors College dean Mari Castañeda explained, “What I find most special and important about the daffodil planting is the fact that it brings the community together and enables us to beautify our community.”

Dean Castañeda planting daffodils, Photo by Sierra Dale

Image

Daffodil bulbs, Photo by Matthew Medeiros

Russell also reflected on her takeaway from this annual event: “What I find special is that not only are students coming together, but they're bringing their families and are building community with us. It also creates a legacy for future students to see how beautiful it is to be in community together by doing this work together.”

A main theme I took away from this event was the word "beautiful". The daffodil planting wasn’t created to simply plant flowers, but it has been a beautiful annual event that not only former dean Priscilla Clarkson but also creates beautiful moments for current students and faculty as well as our future CHC members.

Russell concluded by saying, “Planting is not only about the present, but the future as well.”