Twelve Samford University students got their hands a little dirty Saturday, April 12, but it was all to help their counterparts at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

The "dirty dozen," plus two Samford staff members, spent the day assisting with landscaping chores on the campus that was severely damaged by a tornado on Feb. 5.

They turned earth, pulled weeds, uprooted shrubs to prepare ground for new dirt and mulch, and planted new trees during their brief visit to the Tennessee town 232 miles northwest of Birmingham.

The group made the five-hour drive to Jackson Friday evening and returned Saturday night after a chilly nine-hour work day.

"The Union staff and students were incredibly generous and hospitable. Several students stopped as they were walking by to thank us for coming," said Dean Smedley, a Samford residence life educator who accompanied the group.

"The progress they have already made on the residence halls is amazing," Smedley said of repairs to the housing facilities, most of which were either totally destroyed or severely damaged by the tornado.

The Samford students' work was especially appreciated near the building that houses Union's School of Pharmacy, which expects a visit from the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education later this month to review its accreditation status.

"They wanted to try to make the area look as nice as possible," said Smedley, adding that the Union grounds crew had not had time to work on the project because of other pressing needs.

The volunteers traveled in a van loaned by Shades Mountain Baptist Church and driven by Samford missionary in residence Dale Wood.

Samford and Union consider themselves "sister institutions" due to their common Baptist denominational roots.

Student participants included Jessica Barton, Katie Campbell, Mark Cook, Matt Dixon, Kallie Ernest, Kendall Fruge, Carter Jones, Matt McEniry, Jessica Nix, Paul Sloderbeck, Lindsey Vaughn and Cynthia Wozow.