More than 80 McDaniel students helped spruce up Baltimore City elementary, middle and high schools on Nov. 5 for the Believe in Our Schools Campaign.

“It’s a way to connect with the community,” said organizer Tiffany Mack ’06 of the McDaniel students participation in the program begun last year by Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley to improve city school facilities from floor to ceiling.

“It’s also a good way for students from other colleges to meet each other and make new friends,” Mack said.

The volunteer effort is the first event organized through the College’s affiliation with the Baltimore Collegetown Network. McDaniel joined the consortium of 16 colleges and universities this summer. Baltimore Collegetown’s goal is to attract students to the region and introduce them to everything Baltimore has to offer, with the hope that they will choose to stay in Maryland after graduation.

The site, http://www.baltimorecollegetown.org/asp/home.asp directs students to restaurants, nightlife, shopping, attractions, and internships in the Baltimore area. As a member of the network, McDaniel students, faculty, and staff can also enjoy discounts on tickets for a selection of theater events, concerts, and attractions.

"McDaniel College adds a diverse community of students, faculty and staff to our network and grows our profile as an organization of metropolitan area colleges and universities," said Kristen Campbell, executive director of the Baltimore Collegetown Network.