MILES CITY, MONTANA: Miles Community College students joined community members Thursday evening for a service project honoring local first responders and recognizing the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
MCC student-athletes, members of the Miles City Bandits Special Olympics team, and community volunteers gathered on the MCC campus to assemble nearly 100 gift bags for local first responders. The bags were delivered Friday as a gesture of appreciation for those who dedicate their careers to serving and protecting the community.
The project gave participants an opportunity to work side by side, build connections, and reflect on the spirit of unity and service that emerged across the country following September 11, 2001.
“Recognizing that many of our student participants were not yet born on September 11, 2001, it was important for us to help them understand why 9/11 still matters today,” said Richard DeShields, MCC vice president of student engagement. “In the midst of the tragedy and uncertainty 25 years ago, we saw people across the country respond by asking, ‘What can I do for someone else?’”
The project was supported by the Alliance for Campus Community Engagement and the Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement.
“With support from the Alliance for Campus Community Engagement and the Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement, our students and friends from Special Olympics came together to carry that spirit of service forward by honoring our first responders who have chosen professions centered on serving others,” DeShields added.
For the students who participated, the evening offered a hands-on opportunity to give back while connecting with others around a shared purpose.
“Just like 9/11 brought people out to support each other, my favorite part of the event was how it brought us all together,” one MCC student said.
The nearly 100 completed gift bags served as a small expression of gratitude for local first responders and the work they do each day. The project also encouraged a new generation of students to carry forward the values of service, connection, and community support.
As communities across the country mark 25 years since September 11, MCC remembers the lives lost, honors the first responders who answered the call that day, and recognizes those who continue to serve their communities today.
