Wright State students holding bake sales to benefit children, honor McLin legacy

Students in the C.J. McLin Jr. Scholars Association will hold Valentine’s Day-themed bake sales Feb. 13–14 on the Dayton Campus to raise funds for For Love of Children, or FLOC.

A Wright State University student group will host several bake sales to give those on campus an opportunity to buy sweet treats for their Valentines — and to help neglected children and foster the legacy of a local civil rights leader.

Members of the C.J. McLin Jr. Scholars Association will sell their homemade goodies on Monday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Market and Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in The Hangar and from 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the Student Union Market.

Rahul Shah, association president, said many of the approximately 40 members of the group will make Valentine’s Day-themed brownies, cupcakes, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies and chocolate-covered pretzel rods.

“And we’ll have a fun time while we do so,” said Shah, a senior majoring in biological sciences and minoring in business.

Proceeds from the sale will go toward the association’s charity of choice: For Love of Children, or FLOC, a Dayton nonprofit organization that serves more than 6,000 children who are neglected, abused or in foster care or who are in need of community resources.

“Our organization has been supporting FLOC through fundraisers for the past four years,” Shah said. “We’ve partnered with them the past four years, maybe longer.”

That the association is undertaking this for a good cause speaks to its mission, and to its namesake.

Clarence Josef McLin Jr. was a 22-year lawmaker in the Ohio House, representing the Dayton area. When he passed away in 1988, a few days after being sworn into his 12th term, he was the longest-serving African American legislator in Ohio history at the time.

He was a champion of civil rights and community service, Shah said, adding, “he’s had quite an impact at Wright State.”

McLin was a driving force behind the creation of the Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine. The tunnel between the Medical Sciences building and University Hall features a timeline of Wright State’s history, with a photo of McLin. McLin is also featured on the civil rights activists’ wall in Millet Hall. The Wright State Nutter Center’s gymnasium is named for McLin.

Another area where his impact is seen today, Shah said, is U.S. 35 through Dayton, a stretch of highway for which he was a strong advocate of construction.

“What our organization is trying to do,” Shah said, “is to honor his name and keep his legacy going. The goal of our organization is to provide community service, to bring change to Wright State and the community through leadership, and to create the leaders of tomorrow.”

He added that the association’s symbol is a globe surrounded by the words “Wisdom, Opportunity, Religion, Love and Diversity” — the acronym being WORLD – which the organization strives toward.

Shah said students likely aren’t aware of McLin and his importance.

“They’ve heard of the gym and might have seen photos of him throughout the university,” Shah said. “I think for how much he’s done for Wright State, he’s not noticed by students. We’re trying to reach out to more students and have then join us in continuing his legacy.”

“C.J. McLin Jr. was all about service and leadership, making the Dayton area better for all Daytonians, especially at Wright State,” said Jennifer Lobo,  the association’s co-advisor and a tutoring services program coordinator. The other co-advisor is Quan Zhong, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences.

“They really do live up to that desire of C.J. McLin Jr. to make life better for others,” Lobo said. “I’m very proud of them. They come with wonderful perspectives. I’m impressed by all of them.”

Lobo is looking forward to the bake sales. “They get more and more creative each time,” she said.

The C.J. McLin Jr. Scholars Association is planning another event to benefit FLOC, when around St. Patrick’s Day, students will visit the FLOC office in Dayton to create arts and crafts with the children.

More information on the C.J. McLin Jr. Scholars Association is available at wright.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/cj-mclin-scholars.