bp_020712_012.pdf
12 Broadcaster Press
February 7, 2012 www.broadcasteronline.com
Dozens of USD students go ‘AWOL’ for community-service
More than 50 students from the
University of South Dakota traveled
during their winter break to the
southeast United States, central
Minnesota and Central America to
volunteer for Habitat for Humanity,
spend time with children in need,
and assist Ecuador farmers with the
planting and harvesting of their
crops.
As part of USD’s Alternative
Week of Off-Campus Learning
(AWOL) program, 17 students
repaired homes destroyed by
tornadoes in Birmingham, AL.; 11
students worked with the
LeBonheur’s Children’s Hospital and
the Hope House in Memphis TN; 11
more students worked with
community organizations in
Minneapolis, including local soup
kitchens and Meals on Wheels; and
17 students traveled to Ecuador,
where they learned about
conservation and forest preservation
best practices.
Birmingham, AL
“I speak for our whole group
when I say that this trip made a
huge impact on our lives in many
ways,” said USD student Jessica
Sundleaf of Sioux Falls, who spent a
week in Birmingham working with
Habitat for Humanity.
In 2011, a tornado devastated
homes in the Birmingham area and
throughout the South. Sundleaf and
other students learned how to install
insulation, use a nail gun and put up
siding.
Additional trip volunteers from
USD included Katie Beckman of
White Lake, SD, Kayla Brower,
Monique Ellefson and Daniel Price
of Sioux Falls, Melissa Kutil of
Hartford, SD, Kaylee Bahr and
Ashley Miller of Aberdeen, Rachel
Blake of Centerville, Kara Fischbach
of Mellette, SD, Amos “A.J.” Meyer of
Williams, IA, Paige Moser of Rapid
City, Jonathan Schreiner of Remsen,
IA, Emma Smith and Megan
Waldner of Huron, Nick Weinandt
of Yankton, and Learning Partner
Danielle Hollmann of Estelline, SD.
Memphis, TN
Many of the families that
worked with USD students in
Memphis were amazed that the
volunteers were giving so much of
their time while receiving nothing in
return.
However, Brooke Decker of
Huron disagreed. “In all reality, I felt
that we weren’t gaining anything but
everything,” she said.
Students partnered with both
the LeBonheur's Children's Hospital
and the Hope House, a learning
center for children who have at least
one family member that is
HIV/AIDS positive. Throughout the
week, students divided their time
between the two organizations and
interacted directly with the children
and their families making crafts,
distributing hot cocoa, playing
games and more.
Students volunteering in
Memphis included Abby Wolf of
Jordan, MN, Jessica Colburn of
Aurora, NE, Chelsea Zaragoza of
Ruthven, IA, Abigail Hubbling of
Fulda, MN, Christine Brown of
Watertown, Joshua Rogers of Fort
Pierre, Brett Lorenz of Aberdeen,
Mattea Stokke of Platte, SD, Molly
Larson of Sioux Falls and Learning
Partner Tyler Miller of Mitchell.
Minneapolis, MN
Working in a homeless shelter
was a real eye-opener for students
who spent time in Minneapolis with
several community outreach
organizations.
“I had always thought that I
knew a lot about this city,” said Jake
Renze, the trip learning partner who
lived in Minneapolis for several
years, “but I was humbled very
quickly.”
Participants on this trip focused
solely on the issue of homelessness
and poverty working closely with
community-based Families Moving
Forward, Habitat for Humanity,
Community Emergency Service and
Meals on Wheels.
Student volunteers included
Alexa Walker of Vermillion, Eric
Schlimgen of Rapid City, Tim
Nelson of Council Bluffs, IA,
Andrew Fick of Quimby, IA, Amy
Sandhurst of Sioux Falls, Lindsey
Jones of Burke, SD, Kelly Turner of
Rochester, MN, Allison McEntee of
Lennox, SD, Rebecca Molsberry of
Algona, IA, and Alicia Karn of Tea.
Ecuador
“It is amazing to see what people
from other cultures do to support
their families,” said Casey Kelly of
Omaha, who was one of 17
volunteers from USD that spent a
week in Ecuador working with the
organization Jatun Satcha.
While in Ecuador, volunteers
focused their efforts on learning
about conservation and forest
preservation taking place along
coastal Ecuador. Students worked
with local farmers and residents on
many projects, including crop
planting and harvesting, helping
with mangrove reforestation and
repairing homes in the community.
Ecuador trip participants
included Dan Davies of Vermillion,
Alyssa Day and Mary Galvin of
Sioux Falls, Anna Hyronimus of
Brandon, Kendall Schneider of
Aberdeen, Hanna McElroy of Sioux
City, IA, Caitlin Blumer and Emily
Struck of Yankton, Kyle Kirby of
Salem, SD, Michelle Corio of Elk
Point, Heather Allemang of Neligh,
NE, Leah Akland of Beresford, Brent
Olinger of Emery, SD, Marisol
Lopez-Munoz of South Sioux City,
NE, Audrey Flatgard of Arlington,
SD, and Learning Partner Karl
Reasoner of Sioux Falls.
Housed in the Center for
Academic Engagement, AWOL
offers students the opportunity to
combine community service with
education during academic breaks.
The AWOL program is in the eighth
year on campus and the program
has continued to grow. Prior to
departure, students participate in six
weeks of educational training.
By utilizing experiences and
education, AWOL enables students
to become active citizens, whose
community becomes a priority in
their everyday life and provides
them with avenues for continued
community involvement and
learning.
More information is available at
www.usd.edu/engage/servicelearning/awol-alternativebreaks.cfm.
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