FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2009
Contact: K.E. Schwab
724.738.2199
karl.schwab@sru.edu
SRU students use spring break for community-service work
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Nearly 100 Slippery Rock University students and their advisers will spend their weeklong spring break, which beings Monday, helping others in cities across the U.S. as part of The Rock's annual Care Break program.
The program is sponsored by the University's Institute for Community, Service-Learning and Nonprofit Leadership, a campus program designed to help students develop their leadership skills while helping others.
"This is a great opportunity for students to learn leadership and simultaneously provide community service to those in need," said Jon Frantz, Care Break coordinator for the institute. "Students learn to recruit fellow students, organize the project and raise funds for their transportation. They also learn the benefits of group dynamics as they work to organize the specific projects they will work on at the various cities. They also develop friendships as they actually undertake the work."
Since beginning in 1994 inception, nearly 1,000 students have participated in the program.
This year, 12 volunteers will travel to East Saint Louis, Mo., to work with the East Saint Louis Americorps Program helping in inner-city schools. Fifteen students and faculty will travel to San Francisco to work with Presidio National Park staff helping restore wildlife habitat and removal of invasive species. Participants will also lend a hand replanting native species in the park.
Thirteen participants will join the Las Vegas Care Break to help various homeless organizations, and 15 participants will visit New Orleans to work with the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana on disaster relief from Hurricane Katrina.
The 14-member Care Break group traveling to Seattle, Wash., will work with Emanuel Community Services organization in its efforts with a variety of poverty issues, and the 15-member group headed to San Antonio, Texas, will work with the City Year program helping in community centers as well as working with youngsters in after-school tutoring and mentoring programs.
A group of 15 from SRU will travel to the Mescalero Apache Reservation in New Mexico to help the Native American community.
Alice Kaiser-Drobney, institute director, estimates more than $1 million in community service has been provided by Care Break volunteers over the years.
Care Break 2009
Participants
San Francisco
Geraldine Jenny Faculty Adviser
Julie Brunner South Park
Cayla Catino Riegelsville
Jon Frantz Blakeslee
Marks Paul Ijamsville, Md
Tara McHenry Pittsburgh
Laura Dicey Pittsburgh
Brian Turner Pittsburgh
Rosemary Price Bethlehem
Samantha Loxterman Perry, Ohio
Daniel Kavanaugh Pittsburgh
Christin Swan North East
Miller Crystal Wampum
Maria Tomasetti New Castle
Catherine Hammond Clintonville
New Orleans
Karen Perry Staff adviser
Nick Bennett Pittsburgh
Sarah Hannah Philadelphia
Austin Johnson Stratford, Conn.
Michelle Poweski Fredonia, N.Y.
Rachel Caskey Elizabethtown
Kiley Pogas Sarver
Elizabeth Zinni Fredonia, N.Y.
Maximilian Glinsky Slippery Rock
Margaret Depree Jamestown
Matthew Costa Aurora, Ohio
Ryan Mitchell New Wilmington
Noah Poinar Tallmadge, Ohio
Stephaine Walton Kittanning
Jamie Destefano Pittsburgh
Las Vegas
Austin Hawk Slippery Rock
Jeffery Kaitlin Bloomsburg
Sarah Steele Cranberry Township
Rebecca Barna Pittsburgh
Michael Brown Delmont
Amanda Bruening Painesville, Ohio
Alexis Chiani Naples, Fla.
Nicole Devlin Rockville, Md.
Amanda Gordish Trafford
Matthew Laubham Greensburg
Ronald Mader South Park
Philip Pisone Export
Jamie Scialdone New Castle
San Antonio
Jamie Russell Staff adviser
Anthony DiEmidio Trafford
Tracy Patrice Pittsburgh
Caitlin Bartley Brookville
Alicia Molter Plain City, Ohio
Brazitte Poole Pittsburgh
Maria Gargano Hermitage
Kerrianne Mackowski Natrona Heights
Amy Guiliani Monroeville
Kelly O'Leary South Park
Kaitlin Knaszak Orchard Park, N.Y.
Kelly Miesko Johnstown
Kristin Deardorff Taneytown, Md.
Tara Stackhouse Thurmont, Md.
Kristina Coco Wexford
East Saint Louis
Valerie Freeman Adviser - McKeesport
Leonard Ollison Aldan
Elizabeth Morobitto Pittsburgh
Eric Cannon Pittsburgh
Brandon Holmes West Farmington, Ohio
Samantha Unger Pittsburgh
Emily Bauer Homer City
Brittany Foster Apollo
Sarah Browne Cranberry Township
Jakquiline Conchilla Pittsburgh
Megan Burlbaugh Saxonburg
Katie Maurer Cassandra
New Mexico
Shane Gavin Johnstown
Amber Rine Erie
Heather Strong Grove City
Ashley Rineer Hershey
Jodi Womer West Middlesex
Courtney Stein Pittsburgh
Catherine Sullivan Pittsburgh
Cathy Powell Hermitage
Samantha Rouse McAdoo
Nikita Burke Sarver
Victoria Gressang Mars
Alexandra Spetz Erie
Victoria Thwing Ebensburg
Megan Leskovic Pittsburgh
James Schreck East Stroudsburg
Seattle
Eric Tuten Faculty adviser
Lauren Lawson Pittsburgh
Megan Hubbard Johnstown
Jennifer Denardo Ford City
Marlene Magill Monroeville
Eric Charlton Stoneboro
Patrick Cleveland Washington
Cassandra Hoak Sarver
Kristi Wesolowski Freedom
Laura Ager Indiana
Andrea Miller Mechanicsburg
Chelsey Carnahan Moon Township
Sarah Jelinek Pittsburgh
Ashley Ross Philadelphia
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.