Some of the best and brightest at The University of Alabama will not rest on their laurels this month. They’ll contribute to a community, and eventually the larger region of the Black Belt.

The program is the Honors College University Fellows Experience. It began May 10 and will continue through May 28.

Fifty students in the program will contribute with hands-on projects to improve — for this month — Marion.

While the students do things, such as catalog graves in cemeteries and work with businesses to help them overcome economic hardships, these students are learning leadership skills. Those skills will make them better citizens when they finish their educations and return to their communities.

Marion is fortunate to have this program focused on it.

Hopefully, with additional resources and acceptance, this program will expand into other regions of the Black Belt, making it richer in a different kind of way.