The Mitchell College community honored the memory of former student Stephanie Turowski of Waterford with a day of service earlier this month.

Turowski, a 2015 Mitchell graduate and dedicated volunteer and member of AmeriCorps VISTA program, was killed in a Dec. 26 car crash in Waterford.

New London Mayor Michael Passero issued a proclamation as part the national Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National Service, recognizing Turowski’s contributions to the community.

Volunteers from athletic teams, clubs, academic classes, AmeriCorps and the community worked together on projects to beautify Mitchell Woods and support wildlife. More than 150 volunteers from Mitchell College and the community were joined by the Turowski family. Teams built and installed birdhouses, made bird feeders and nesting bags, cleared invasive species, removed litter, and raked the Little League fields.

Amanda Ljubicic, Mitchell College director of integrative career development who worked closely with Turowski, said a committee chose the Mitchell Woods beautification project because the park “provides a reflective, educational and recreational space not only for the campus, but also for the City of New London and beyond.”

The Woods was the site of Stephanie’s first coordinated service project on campus working as a AmeriCorps VISTA member.

g.smith@theday.com