Two lacrosse players, John Wagner and Zach Melillo recently helped a Sodexo employee move to her new apartment, sparking a discussion about the value of community service at the university.
The action occurred a little more than two weeks ago, starting at Cobeen dining hall. Wagner, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, and Melillo, a sophomore in the College of Communication, overheard Sodexo employee Ruby Brown talking to a co-worker about moving.
According to Brown, Melillo and Wagner asked if they could help her. She said that the players then gave up a Saturday to help her out.
Brown commented on the significance of community service in general and at the university.
“Community service is very important and a lot of kids do a lot of things that they don’t get noticed for,” she said. “Some kid somewhere has done something even more impactful than this.”
Melillo credited head coach Joe Amplo and the lacrosse program for the motivation to do community service.
“Marquette Lacrosse is all about (helping out),” Melillo said. “That’s how our coach continues to raise us as a program. The people here, you get to know them and you want to help. Everyone here has a good heart and is genuine.”
Melillo acknowledged that there are plenty of other Marquette students that participate in community service every day. He mentioned the lacrosse team hosts an event that helps wounded war veterans learn how to play lacrosse.
Melillo said Brown was just one of many Sodexo employees he knew on a more personal level, and would be willing to help out.
The university Twitter account shared an email Gilligan sent to Marquette lacrosse coach Joe Amplo. Gilligan said the two players were, “fine young men” and, “the best of what I have come to expect at Marquette.”
Gilligan echoed these statements to the Tribune. “I view the ideal Marquette student as one that strives to follow the guiding principles of the university,” he said in an email. “Excellence, Faith, Leadership and Service. In this instance, these two gentlemen exhibited all four principles. Whether they realize it or not, through this story, they may have inadvertently inspired others to be better servants to each other.”
Gilligan said that the action inspired the development of a Twitter campaign entitled “MU Selfless Saturday,” which will encourage Marquette students to share their acts of kindness. He said the campaign will be launched within the next few weeks.
