FSU Main Entrance Gets a Makeover 

Sep 22, 2026 10:00 AM

By Megan Knox ‘24

Frostburg State University’s main entrance has always been a popular spot for graduating students and their senior photos. The metal arch is the first display everyone sees when entering the campus, so it is only natural to get a picture with it. But imagine when a student steps in front of the front entrance sign with their families trailing behind only to sink into the mulch and dirt. 

Student members of the FSU grounds crew were seeing this misstep and instead of doing nothing, they came up with an idea. What began as a simple conversation among student workers transformed into a significant beautification project on campus. Led by student worker Blake Varela alongside team members Jenna Riley, Justin Riley, Connor Riley and Jack Ennis, this crew of Bobcats took it upon themselves to upgrade the University's prominent front entrance from basic mulch bed to a camera-ready display. 

“It’s the first thing you see when you get on campus,” Varela said. “That’s the hotspot... especially for graduation. We figured if we could make that look good it would make everything else look good as well.” 

The project gained traction when the team pitched to their supervisors the idea of adding pawprint steppingstones. Associate Director of Student Organizations and Community Engagement Jamie Winters encouraged the addition and personally purchased stones and flowers for the site. Assistant Director of Facilities Shawn Llewellyn and the students' immediate supervisor Greg Partsch stepped in to secure the supplies and bring the students support and encouragement. 

“We made improvements around ten years ago when I designed the entrance with the boulders, plantings and lighting,” Partsch said. “They did a great job with their improvements with the help of Shawn and Jamie.” 

With the supplies provided, the students got to work. They hauled heavy, flat rocks from the surrounding woods to anchor the steppingstones, painted the accents by hand and constructed a custom central platform, using black bricks and stones. The students put tremendous effort into each steppingstone, aligning them precisely with the metal arch. 

“We couldn’t just place stuff down,” Jenna Riley said. “We had to see if it sat level, put dirt under it or take dirt out and make sure it was where it should be. We paid a lot of attention to the center of the sign and having a paw print alternating that midline.” 

While the new entrance is a physical representation to student initiative, the grounds crew emphasized that keeping FSU beautiful requires a lot of effort and a lot of hands. They encourage student organizations, sororities, fraternities and campus clubs to step up to keep FSU beautiful. 

“If there’s someone who wants to do something or make something stand out, just say something to someone.” Justin Riley said. 

For now, students and future graduates line up at FSU’s front entrance and will stand on the pawprints laid out with pride by their fellow students and faculty members.