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UNCP Students
Support Troops in the Middle East
 Business
was booming Wednesday at tables set aside in UNCP's University Center
for students to create cards for U.S. troops serving in the Middle East.
"We have 75
cards, and we've only been open a little more than an hour," said
student Scott Ammons, a member of UNCP's new Apha Phi Omega national
service fraternity, which sponsored the project.
Kay Locklear, a
senior social work major from Red Springs, was also helping out.
"I just wanted
to be part of this project because I liked the idea," Ms. Locklear
said. "Help out, that's what social workers do."
Alpha Phi Omega
member Lawrence Locklear said the 76-year-old, co-ed service fraternity
and UNCP's Leadership and Service Opportunities Program (LSOP) are working
to establish a chapter on campus.
"This is our
initial service project, and it's going very well," Mr. Locklear
said. "I pledged APO when I was a student at N.C. State. We did
a lot of good work for organizations like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts
and others. It was work for a good cause but fun also."
Former President
Bill Clinton was a brother in Alpha Phi Omega, Mr. Locklear said. Mr.
Locklear is UNCP's web publisher.
Back at the letter
writing tables Heidie Norris, a freshman from Monroe, N.C., was decorating
her card.
"I have family
and friends over there," Ms. Norris said. "It is important
to support them."
 Stephanie
Lewis, a sophomore from Pembroke, had even more personal reasons for
writing.
"I was in the
U.S. Army Reserve, and my unit just got called up to serve," Ms.
Lewis said. "I'm just telling them to be safe, stay cool and good
luck."
Dedra Chavis also
had personal reasons to support the troops.
"A good friend's
husband is in Afghanistan, and my husband, Christopher, is a Marine,
who may get called back," Ms. Chavis said.
The petitioning
group of Alpha Phi Omega is advised by Mr. Locklear and Student Activities'
Melanie Clark, director of LSOP.
"I was so impressed
with the way this project turned out," Ms. Clark said. "Community
service is the link between Alpha Phi Omega and our program."
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