IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2010

CONTACT: K.E. Schwab
724.738.2199

karl.schwab@sru.edu

  

SRU students forego beaches for spring break service projects

 

Editor's Note: A list of participants and their hometowns is attached.

 

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Sixty-five Slippery Rock University students and their faculty or staff advisers will spend spring break lending a hand as volunteers in cities across the U.S., as part of the University's annual Care Break program.

           SRU's spring break is March 8-14. 

           Care Breaks are organized and sponsored by SRU's Institute for Community, Service-Learning and Nonprofit Leadership. The insitute is designed to help students develop their leadership skills while helping others. The Care Break program has been an annual event at SRU since 1994.

           This year's trips will include service projects in East St. Louis, Ill; the Mascalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco, Calif.; and New Orleans, La.

           The service-learning breaks are being organized by Care Break Coordinator Selina Aurandt, a graduate student in the master of secondary education program from Mercer.

           As part of the program, participants raised their share of the costs for transportation and incidentals. 

           "We have a team of 10 going to East St. Louis where they will be offering volunteer time with the AmeriCorps program there working with underprivileged, inner-city youth," Aurandt said.

           "A group of 14, including myself, will be going to New Mexico to help the Apache tribe restore its fish hatchery after it was devastated by wild fires and floods. We have a group of 14 headed to Texas where they will be partnering with the City Year Organization on a variety of Community Legacy Projects," she said.            

           Another group of 14 is headed to San Francisco to provide environmental service for the Presidio Park helping to restore its natural beauty, and a group of 13 is headed to New Orleans to partner with the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana to help rebuild Lower 9th Ward homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

           "These spring break programs show the caring and service orientation of SRU students," Aurandt said. "While we may be giving up a fun-in-the-sun spring break, they will still have fun, get to know their fellow students better and know that they have helped others," Aurandt said. "It is also a great resume builder and truly provides education, not only about the problems they will find in other cities. The trips will also help students build their skills in organizing and planning such trips. The confidence they build by actually participating in these important group projects is another factor."

           SRU's Care Break program has provided more than $1 million in community service value since its inception, organizers said.

 

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania's premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.

 

 

2010 Slippery Rock University Care Break participant list:

 

EAST ST. LOUIS: 

Rebecca Louise Barna (Lead) Pittsburgh

Kathleen A Bird, Grove City

Katherine E Burkett, Jefferson Hills

Jakquiline Serena Conchilla, Pittsburgh

Juliette Olivia Deeds, Gibsonia

Austin Michael Hawk, Slippery Rock

Nichole Erica Kline, Butler

Sandra L Miralia, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Lauren Louise Tucker (Lead), Perryopolis

Karen Renee Yurkiw, Beaver Falls

 

MASCELERO, N.M.

Selina Michelle Aurandt (Trip Adviser) Mercer

Michelle E Barr, Xenia, OH

Emily Elizabeth Eppinger, Harmony, PA

Tara Lee Eppinger, Cranberry Twp, PA

Renee Leigh Euard (Lead), Jamestown, PA

John Grossman, Youngstown, Ohio

James Lee Hull, Washington

Jillian M MacRitchie, Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Kayla Elaine Mennini, Erie,

Rosemary W Price (Lead), Bethlehem

Darlene Bernice Purvis, New Castle

Noah C Radtke, Valley City

Chelsea Kaye Richards, Gibsonia

Marah Lynn Vecenie, Pittsburgh

 

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Jennifer Lauren Blasiak (Lead) South Park

Karen E Citroen, the Netherlands

Erica Lee Carnright, Moon Township

Amy Nicole Dikum, Ellwood City

Jordan Elizabeth Guido, Lower Burrell

Sara L Hannah, Akron, Ohio

Jessica Caroline Kraus (Lead) New Castle

Ashley Marie Moore, New Castle

Anna Marie Salamon, Washington

Alexandra Adriaan Spetz, Erie

Lauren Nicole Stein, Pittsburgh

Christin L Swan, North East

Dr. Eric Engel Tuten (Trip Adviser) assistant professor of history

Xia Yi Zhang, Columbia, Md.

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

Genae Gallardy Gramling, Summerhill

Rebecca L Herron, Carrollton, Ohio

Dylan Patrick Moore (Lead), Warren

Elizabeth Dawn Morobitto (Lead), Pittsburgh

Nicholas R Pope, Watertown, N.Y.

Deanna Michele Rainey, Pittsburgh

Brian Keith Rice, Baltimore, Md.

Kasey Elizabeth Riddle, Jeannette

Jessica Nicole Rispoli, West Mifflin

Jamie Lynn Russell (Trip Adviser) assistant director, Living-Learning Community Development, 

Office of Residence Life, Division of Student Life

Katherine Mary Sopczynski, South Park

Carly Ann Stevens, Newville

Jacob Michael Walbridge, Morrisville

Adrienne Amanda Zupan, Pittsburgh

 

NEW ORLEANS, LA.

Nikita Nicole Burke, Sarver

Nicole Lynne Cobb, Pittsburgh

Rachel A Caskey, Elizabeth

Maximilian Paul Glinsky, Slippery Rock

Eric James Kissel, Columbiana, Ohio

Meagan Ann Lenze, Duncansville

Coleen M McBee, Akron, Ohio

Eileen Ott, Severn, Md.

Timothy James Plumberg, Denver

Segan Shae Smith (Lead), Altoona

David A Swan. Northeast

Victoria Joy Thwing (Lead)

Charlotte Gyde Naas Markivich (Trip Adviser), Johnstown