Beverly Meyer

Dos 771 Clinical Practicum II

August 5, 2017

Volunteering for Kin Takahashi Week at Maryville College

Kin Takahashi came to Maryville College (MC) in Tennessee in 1888. He has become a
legend on the campus of Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee which is my alma mater.
According to Karen Beatty Eldridge, 94, the colleges Director of News and Public Information,
he is an example of how one student can make a difference.1 During his second year in the
United States, and then student at Hopkins Academy in Massachusetts, Kin converted from
Buddhism to Christianity. As a result, his parents cut off all financial support after receiving
word of his conversion back in Japan. After learning from another student about Maryville
Colleges commitment to help students who wanted a college education but were financially
unable, he transferred to the small liberal arts school. During his short time as an undergraduate
at MC, he not only started the first football team but also spearheaded the building of Bartlett
Hall, which housed a gymnasium and Y.M.C.A.
At the beginning of the summer semester I had the opportunity to participate in the 21st
Annual Kin Takahashi (KT) Week at Maryville College. This week is an alumni event devoted
to betterment of the college campus in the spirit of the legendary MC student. There were more
than 120 alumni participants during the week of June 5-9, 2017. Throughout the week, more
than 55 projects were completed around campus including landscaping, carpentry, painting,
pressure washing, and general repairs necessary throughout campus, totaling more than 3,000
project hours.1
Four years ago, my soccer teammates and I experienced the loss of a dear friend to
pancreatic cancer. Molly was my best friend and roommate while at MC. My teammates remain
my closest friends today. We have always wanted to volunteer at MC for KT Week in her
memory, and this was our year. As a volunteer, I helped with pulling weeds, raking mulch, and
trimming shrubbery during the morning hours. After lunch a torrential summer storm moved in
and we moved our volunteer work inside to the Clayton Arts Center for an impromptu
organizational frenzy in the basement storage, which housed their Christmas decorations, among
other items needing attention and organizing. I am so thankful to be a KTer for this community
service opportunity. Next year, I hope to be able to volunteer the whole week along with my
fellow alumni.

Reference:
1. Maryville College Web site. https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/alumni/events/kin-
takahashi/about-KTW. Accessed June 22, 2017.
Figure 1. Kin Takahashi Week at Maryville College
Figure 2. Soccer alumni landscaping
Figure 3. Soccer alumni at KT Week. We even saw our coach on campus!