Bachelor Ben Higgins and bride-to-be, Lauren Bushnell, helped Harrison Elementary School students give out Boomerang Backpacks. Pictured in front from left are student volunteers Kyle, Nathan, Seth, Kyler, Brandon, Angel and high school helper Sydney Peugh. In back are Harrison Principal Lee Snider, Harrison PTO volunteer Casey Bergen, Harrison Boomerang Backpacks adult coordinator Tracey Akers, Higgins and Bushnell. (Photo by Amanda McFarland)

WARSAW — Students at Harrison Elementary School enjoyed a visit Thursday, March 24, when Ben Higgins and fiancee Lauren Bushnell spent the afternoon getting to know the students and volunteering.

Higgins, who attended Harrison, returned to his former elementary school, along with Bushnell, to have lunch, visit classrooms and help hand out Boomerang Backpacks.

Higgins starred in this year’s season of, “The Bachelor,” where he eventually chose Bushnell as his bride-to-be. The couple returned to Higgins’s hometown to get to know one another better and participate in some community service activities.

“It’s odd to even say you’re giving back,” Higgins said of handing out Boomerang Backpacks. “I look at it as more, just participating in what they were doing.”

For Bushnell, this whole week has been an opportunity to get to know her future husband even better.

“It means the world to be here,” Bushnell said. “I was here once during the show and I get to see Ben and the city that shaped him.”

While the kids enjoyed having Higgins and Bushnell at their school, the adults were just as excited.

“I appreciate their kindness in coming back and support the Harrison school and Harrison PTO,” Harrison Elementary School Principal Lee Snider said. “It was great to see how excited the kids were. Ben and Lauren were very gracious.”

Higgins and Bushnell will wrap up their week Friday with Baker Youth Club’s annual fundraiser event.