BATESVILLE, Arkansas — Lyon College will celebrate the legacy of beloved children’s television host and Presbyterian minister Fred Rogers with a community service project aimed at preserving local history.
Lyon College Chaplain and Director of Service Maggie Alsup said the campus community will gather during Chapel Hour on Thursday, March 19, for Mr. Rogers Day, an event inspired by the values Rogers promoted through his long-running television program, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Known for his messages about kindness, empathy and being a good neighbor, Rogers was also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Rogers’ birthday, March 20, is observed by many churches and communities as a time to reflect on his teachings and to put those lessons into action through service.
At Lyon College, students, faculty, and staff will mark the occasion by partnering with BillionGraves to document and preserve burial records at Pioneer Cemetery in Batesville.
Participants will photograph cemetery headstones, upload the images, and record available information so the data can be added to BillionGraves’ global database. The project helps genealogists, historians, and families locate information about ancestors while preserving historical records that might otherwise be lost.
Organizers say the project reflects Rogers’ enduring message about caring for neighbors and communities.
“The month of March has become a time for the church to highlight all we learned from Mr. Rogers’ work,” Chaplain Alsup said. “It is also a time for us to put into action the things he taught for many years on his television show.”
The service project will begin at 12:15 p.m. at Pioneer Cemetery and will conclude in time for participants to return to campus for classes.
Those interested in participating or learning more about the BillionGraves initiative may contact Chaplain Alsup in the Lyon College chaplain’s office at chaplain@lyon.edu.
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About Lyon College
Lyon College, a private, liberal arts institution founded in 1872, is the oldest college in the state with its original charter. Ranked by US News & World Report as a 2025 “Best College,” Lyon currently enrolls 781 students from more than 33 states and 14 countries. Students can tailor their education, selecting from 32 majors, as well as pre-professional, individualized options and select graduate programs. Learn more at lyon.edu.
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