UA students spend break helping
Diana Storch
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
The UA chapter of the organization has participated in Collegiate Challenge for at least five years, but this year's group of 15 - including three men and 12 women - was the biggest yet, President Caroline Prenger said.
"It was a very diverse group, which was great," said Amanda Reed, a junior kinesiology major who went on the trip.
The volunteers rode about 14 hours in three cars to Alamosa, Colo. to work with the San Luis Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate, Secretary Jazmin Berlanga said.
Berlanga and Scott Steele, the campus chapter's Seven Hills liaison, organized the trip.
"It was on a list of trip choices on the Collegiate Challenge Web site," Berlanga said. "The description mentioned 'adobe houses,' which Scott and I jumped at. Going to Colorado was also a chance to travel and get to know another part of the country."
The Habitat for Humanity volunteers arrived in Alamosa March 16. The group worked from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, said Kelsey Jones, a junior marketing major.
"It was kind of scary at first," Jones said of the trust given to the UA students, who were not given much carpentry training.
Although Jones - who wired the house - admitted that her arm was sore afterward, she and Reed mentioned the feeling of accomplishment they got Friday when they stood back to look at the house they helped to build.
"We got the roof shingled, inside walls put up, outer insulation nailed up, some wiring and other random tasks done," Berlanga said.
The house will continue to be worked on by other student groups. Before the UA students arrived, it was being built by students from Texas Christian University, Jones said.
On their last night, the volunteers cooked a spaghetti and salad dinner for the people they had met, including the woman whose house they helped build, Reed and Jones said.
"It was a great way to put a human face on volunteering, which sometimes seems impersonal," Berlanga said.
The Habitat for Humanity trip also cost about $50 a person, plus about $50 more for gas, food and other necessities, she said.
The trip "was a great alternative way [to spend spring break] instead of going to the beach with a big group," Reed said.
"I would definitely do it again, so obviously it was a great experience for me," Jones said.
Students who want to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity can get involved with Act!Speak!Build! Week March 31 through April 5. Events will include a raffle, pizza sale, the annual sleep-out and helping to build houses.
"So whether you prefer to build houses, sleep in cardboard boxes or would just like to eat some pizza, look for our members on campus all week in order to participate," Prenger said.
"It was a very diverse group, which was great," said Amanda Reed, a junior kinesiology major who went on the trip.
The volunteers rode about 14 hours in three cars to Alamosa, Colo. to work with the San Luis Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate, Secretary Jazmin Berlanga said.
Berlanga and Scott Steele, the campus chapter's Seven Hills liaison, organized the trip.
"It was on a list of trip choices on the Collegiate Challenge Web site," Berlanga said. "The description mentioned 'adobe houses,' which Scott and I jumped at. Going to Colorado was also a chance to travel and get to know another part of the country."
The Habitat for Humanity volunteers arrived in Alamosa March 16. The group worked from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, said Kelsey Jones, a junior marketing major.
"It was kind of scary at first," Jones said of the trust given to the UA students, who were not given much carpentry training.
Although Jones - who wired the house - admitted that her arm was sore afterward, she and Reed mentioned the feeling of accomplishment they got Friday when they stood back to look at the house they helped to build.
"We got the roof shingled, inside walls put up, outer insulation nailed up, some wiring and other random tasks done," Berlanga said.
The house will continue to be worked on by other student groups. Before the UA students arrived, it was being built by students from Texas Christian University, Jones said.
On their last night, the volunteers cooked a spaghetti and salad dinner for the people they had met, including the woman whose house they helped build, Reed and Jones said.
"It was a great way to put a human face on volunteering, which sometimes seems impersonal," Berlanga said.
The Habitat for Humanity trip also cost about $50 a person, plus about $50 more for gas, food and other necessities, she said.
The trip "was a great alternative way [to spend spring break] instead of going to the beach with a big group," Reed said.
"I would definitely do it again, so obviously it was a great experience for me," Jones said.
Students who want to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity can get involved with Act!Speak!Build! Week March 31 through April 5. Events will include a raffle, pizza sale, the annual sleep-out and helping to build houses.
"So whether you prefer to build houses, sleep in cardboard boxes or would just like to eat some pizza, look for our members on campus all week in order to participate," Prenger said.
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