Lots of writers unfamiliar with Calvin College were on campus for the 2000 edition of the Festival of Faith and Writing. But when they needed assistance they simply needed to find the folks wearing the red badges. 
Those red badges not only signaled people who knew where to find a good cup of coffee, they also marked those who put in hundreds of hours coordinating the 2000 Festival. 
About 20 students were part of a committee that helped with not just publicity and logistics, but also ensuring that visiting authors were happy with their visit. The work was often hectic, one student volunteer described the three-day event as a "circus," but also was "exciting and exhilarating." 
Calvin senior Andrew Hoogheem enjoyed "putting faces with names." The English major from Fulton, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa, maintained the Festival web site. 
"It was gratifying to put faces with the names of these people that I already felt like I knew, in a sense," he said. 
Working on the Festival also encouraged Hoogheem's own writing. 
"Meeting the authors makes them refreshingly human," he said. "It makes me think,'If she can do it, I might as well give it a try, right?'" 
Senior English major Gabrielle Darnell from Charlottesville, Virginia, had some of her own work critiqued. Her volunteer duties included being "buddies" with illustrator and book designer Barry Moser. 
"I am in awe of his work, and so it was a bit hard for me to get over the fame and reputation factor when I was interacting with him," she said. "But he was very considerate and even looked at some of my own artwork and critiqued it." 
Freshman volunteer Susan Sytsma of Holland, Michigan gained a "deeper appreciation for the writers craft." 
The religion and English major said: "Hearing Maya Angelou sing and speak touched me deeply...I think I will never read any of the author's works the same. Their work came to life." 
Another highlight for Sytsma and many Festival-goers was Anne Lamott. "Her writing is edgy and real," said Sytsma, "and I was looking forward to hearing her speak about her faith and writing. She didn't disappoint me." 
So was all the work worth it? 
Gabrielle Darnell perhaps summed it up best: 
"It was exhilarating being around so many fine minds and having the opportunity to not only listen to them talk to an audience, but also talk to them individually, even if only while driving them to their hotel."