Day of Service Held to Remember 1st Lieutenant Richard Collins III

Students, Veterans and Other Supporters Gather in Baltimore

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, [email protected], 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) - Hundreds of students from the University of Maryland, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, Coppin State University, ROTC Cadets and veterans from The Mission Continues, a Veterans Service Organization, participated in a Day of Service in Baltimore this past Saturday in remembrance of 1st Lieutenant Richard Collins III and celebration of his 31st birthday on December 12.

The Day of Service, held at the Strength to Love II Farm in West Baltimore, was organized by the 2nd Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III Foundation and the Social Justice Alliance, a collaboration between Bowie State and the University of Maryland created to honor the legacy of BSU alumnus Lt. Collins and promote social justice on their respective campuses.

Strength to Love II Farm is a community-based urban farm that has taken vacant land and transformed it into an operational farm that grows spinach, cabbage, turnips, beets, carrots and other organic vegetables. Day of Service volunteers participated in several tasks at the farm including clearing fields, building green houses, reinforcing fencing and irrigation work to help ensure fresh produce can be provided to a community faced with food insecurity.

Many of the Day of Service participants were ROTC Cadets who said they felt it was their duty to become involved.

"I have to be here," said Adonis Soul, a Bowie State cadet majoring in broadcast journalism. "I receive financial support from the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship which means I don't have to worry about the financial burden of tuition while simultaneously worrying about my studies. It's made a huge difference in my life, and helping on this urban farm is my way of giving back."

"The $10,000 Collins Scholarship has allowed me to go to school and pursue my degree in mechatronics without the financial cost of college, and better myself by becoming an Army Officer," said Baltimore native and University of Maryland junior Dirichi Nwanegwo.

Leaders of the Social Justice Alliance from Bowie State and the University of Maryland brought members of the organization to the Day of Service to show support and help make a difference.

"It's absolutely imperative that the Social Justice Alliance continues to honor the legacy of Lt. Collins," said Bowie State Professor Matasha Harris, co-chair of the alliance. "This event brings the SJAs from Bowie State and the University of Maryland together to collectively work on a project so that students at the institutions develop a better understanding of the importance of giving back and service."

Rosalyn Alexander, a Bowie State senior from Princess Anne, Maryland and a member of the Social Justice Alliance, said supporting the Day of Service is the right thing to do.

"Since my major is criminal justice, I feel obligated to be here," she said. "Lt. Collins lost his life due to a hate crime and all he wanted to do was be of service to his country. Therefore, I feel as though this is something I must do to honor him."

"My son, 1st Lieutenant Richard Collins III, was dedicated to serving others through his commitment to the U.S. Army," said Dawn Collins, president and co-founder of the 2ndLieutenant Richard W. Collins III Foundation. "By coming together as a community to serve, we not only honor his memory but also carry forward his vision of making a tangible difference."

1stLieutenant Richard Collins III was a student at Bowie State University who was killed

on May 20, 2017, at a bus stop on the campus of the University of Maryland three days before he would have graduated from Bowie State with a degree in business administration.

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About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.

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