DESK Project 2021

COVID Can't Stop Pro Humanitate

By Wake Forest University

April 23^rd, 2021

WFU students decorate desks for local elementary students

On April 21 from 3-6 p.m. on Poteat Field, about 100 Wake Forest students listened to music and enjoyed each other’s company while painting desks for local elementary school students.

It was all part of Wake’s annual Discovering Education through Student Knowledge, or D.E.S.K. program, started by two students who identified a lack of workspace in the homes of children they were tutoring in partnership with Old Town Elementary School.

This marks the 22nd year Wake Forest has partnered with Old Town to create desks for students and the first year the University has provided desks for other elementary children as well. The program is organized through Wake Forest’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement, or OCCE.

Traditionally, Wake students go to the school to meet the students and design their desks. Then, the children come to campus for several hours of fun, including desk painting, eating cotton candy and popcorn, and playing in a bounce house. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, elementary students didn’t visit campus this year.

"A worthy cause"

“We had to reschedule the D.E.S.K. event a few times, but we got out on Poteat Field to start priming the desks around 8:30 a.m. on the 21st,” said Caroline Welch, senior director. “We had to persevere through some wind gusts throughout the day, but we adapted to the weather challenges and moved forward without sustaining any damage to the desks.

“We were very fortunate to have blue skies and sunshine, which enabled us to gather to paint the desks,” Welch continued. “Everyone who showed up seemed to really enjoy being together, and I know I speak for my Wake Forest classmates in saying we’re so glad we were able to manage such a worthy cause for deserving elementary students.”

Cute Desk! :)

“One of the biggest pieces of the event, and what we Wake students most look forward to is having the kids there,” said Welch, a senior health and exercise science major from Winston-Salem. “We deeply felt their absence this year … but I think we all realized how important it was that we still had the event and painted desks so the kids would have something to call their own, not to mention a place where they could focus on their school work and get creative while learning remotely in their homes.”