Upper Iowa University students learn and serve during alternative spring break trips
FAYETTE, Iowa (March 6, 2013) – While some college students head to faraway paradises to bask on warm beaches, 20 Upper Iowa University students will be serving others and gaining a global perspective through this year's alternative spring break trips March 9-15 to Costa Rica and Boston, Mass.
In Costa Rica, 10 students and two advisers will volunteer at a local school and tile a community center in San Miguel. The UIU group will also work with an indigenous tribe called the Bribri, who live along the coastal areas of Costa Rica and Panama. The Bribri work hard to keep their original culture and native language, and have the lowest income per capita of the country. This tribe has requested help in translating and writing a program for a theatre group. Upper Iowa students will assist with the project, and also conduct a native medicinal plant walk where they will plant, collect and catalog information regarding the healing qualities of the plants.
Traveling to Costa Rica are Kate Weston of Newton, Iowa; Alicia Neff of Hanover Park, Ill.; Ashley Hilleshiem of Fayette, Iowa; Shay Enriquez of St. Charles, Ill.; Alexandra Surdu of Chisinau, Moldova; Deepa Wai May of Selangor, Malaysia, Marie Arai of Takaasaki-shi, Japan; Dylan Lagerman-Aten of Fayette, Iowa; Nicole Lim of Selangor, Malaysia ; and Daphne Barness of Ossian, Iowa.
In addition, Upper Iowa students will experience life with Costa Rican families and the Bribri, visit the local natural hot springs, raft and learn how to make chocolate the Bribri way.
For the 10 students traveling to Boston, spring break will be a service-learning adventure as they volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and serving meals at a community kitchen.
In addition, UIU students will take in the historical and educational sites of the Boston area, as well as walk Freedom Trail.
Students traveling to Boston include Abner Avila of Belize City, Belize; Robert Mardones of Miranda de Ebro, Spain; Matthew Flesch of Bryant, Iowa; Nikki Boggs of De Soto, Wis.; Matin Abdul Alim of Selangor, Malaysia; Joanne Balk of West Union, Iowa; Alexandra Massman of Ossian, Iowa; Sarah Gonner of Manchester, Iowa; Hannah Myers of Lisbon, Iowa; and Lorena Castaneda of Guatemala City, Gautemala .
About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to some 6,200 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.