TERRE HAUTE -- Members of the Indian Student Association unpacked their cans of food, studied the picture and began their creation.
"We're planning to build the India Gate," said Abhishek Dharmaraj, an Indiana State University graduate student in electronics and computer technology and president of the association.
"It's one of the famous monuments," added Aishwarya Motiwale, who is working on her MBA and is from India.
Their re-creation of that monument netted the association the Most Creative Award in the Canstruction competition held at ISU's Dede Plaza Thursday (Oct. 16).
"We just wanted to show that we come here and not just use the resources, but that we contribute to the community," Dharmaraj said about participating in the canned food drive.
Canstruction, part of the global World Food Day, urged student groups to get donations of canned food and then use the food to create designs. At the end of the day, the food was taken to Catholic Charities to be distributed throughout the community.
More than 2,000 pounds was donated at the university, but more food was still being dropped off, according to Karl McGarvey, a student in the world hunger and nutrition class that arranged the Canstruction event.
"It was important for ISU students to be involved because change has to start somewhere, and what better a place than with the youth of the community," McGarvey said about having Canstruction on the campus. "A strong student function such as this only solidifies the idea that anyone can make a difference."
Kellie Bass, a graduate student in human resource development from Gary, said three groups banded together for their Canstruction effort. Females in Technology, Society of Human Resource Management and Institute of Packaging Professionals members worked to create a large paper sack ? made with cans wrapped in strips from paper bags -- filled with food and food spilling over its edge.
"We wanted to help out with world hunger and we knew we could help the community," she said.
Those groups won the award for most items collected.
Students in the political science 107 class donated food and then the students spelled out "vote" along with constructing a head preparing to take a bite of a cherry.
"We wanted something political fighting hunger and encouraging others to go vote," said Michael Cook, a junior political science major from Charleston, Ill. "We felt it was our civic duty to stay involved and help the community as a whole."
Erin Binchi, a junior nursing major from Mansfield, Ohio, said the women's soccer team got involved because a teammate was in the world hunger and nutrition class, which organized Canstruction.
The women's soccer team received the prize for most enthusiasm and spirit. They created a soccer player kicking a ball into a goal.
Earth Science Club members used food collected from the geology 160 classes to let it be known that this is "Earth Science Week."
"We figured it would be a good community service project," said Tiffany Schoenbachler, a junior geology major from Evansville.
World Food Day included a teleconference "Choices for a Warm and Hungry Planet" an international panel of experts will discuss the affect of high food prices and climate changes upon the world's poor. There also was the showing of a documentary "Global Warming ? The Signs and Science" a national question call-in.
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Contact: Rao Ivaturi, Indiana State University, associate professor of family and consumer science, at rivaturi@isugw.indstate.edu or at 812-237-3312.
Writer: Jennifer Sicking, Indiana State University, assistant director of media relations, at jsicking@indstate.eduor at 812-237-7972.
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/395401824_qPcxW-D.jpg
Cutline: Members of the Indian Student Association work on their creation of the India Gate during the Canstruction competition Oct. 16.
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/395403939_y8fES-D.jpg
Cutline: Members of the ISU women's soccer team build a soccer player kicking a soccer ball into a goal for their Canstruction effort on Oct. 16.