The student government is hosting a T-shirt design contest for Panther Service Day.

Dan Rolando, the student vice president of student affairs, and Rachel Fisher, the director of student community service, have come up with a way of getting students involved.

The T-shirt design contest will be open to all students.

“So many students complain about the T-shirt design saying ‘it’s plain and so similar to previous years’,” Rolando said.

With the T-shirt design contest the only thing students are obligated to put on the shirt is the Panther Service Day logo and the name of the sponsors, the rest of the design is up to the student’s creative minds.

Rolando said the deadline for all T-Shirt designs is March 11, right before spring break. The Panther Service Day committee, comprised of Rolando, Fisher and Student Senate members, will choose the winning T-shirt.

Mindy Gayheart, a graduate student and a graduate adviser of the student government said the contest will market the event for years to come.

“Every time a student wears their Panther Service Day shirt, the event will gain notice by the student body,” Gayheart said. “We are excited to see the creativity the students will put into their T-Shirt designs.”

Rolando also said if the T-shirt design is a success then he would like to make this an annual event for students to support Panther Service Day.

The volunteers will wear the T-shirt that wins the design contest on Panther Service Day, on April 16. The day will start off at 8:30 a.m. with the “Charity 5k Run and Walk”‘ to support children from the Children’s Advocacy Center, who are victims of physical and sexual abuse.

From noon to 4 p.m. there will be several service projects for students to volunteer in and give back to the community.

“Last year we had roughly 300 student volunteers this year we are shooting for 500,” Rolando said.

Students will have plenty of projects to keep them busy such as trash pick up, making animal toys for the animal shelter, playing bingo at local nursing homes, and planting trees.

“Panther Service Day is away for Eastern to give back to its community,” Fisher said. “It is a fantastic day of activity and full of fun.”

Sierra Teague can be reached at 581-2812 or slteague@eiu.edu.