UIU "voluntourists" help New Orleans on spring break
Students aid large Habitat for Humanity project in Upper Ninth Ward
FAYETTE, IOWA (March 6, 2007) – More than a dozen Upper Iowa University students are spending next week’s spring break rebuilding homes in New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward as part of an “Alternative Spring Break.”
The students leave Fayette March 10 and will spend three days working on some of the 70 homes being constructed in the New Orleans Habitat “Musicians’ Village” – a project ideated by jazz musicians Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. that has been underway since March 2006 – and the 300 additional homes being constructed in the surrounding Ninth Ward. The Upper Ninth Ward was under as much as six feet of water following Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.
Upper Iowa University’s Alternative Spring Break is a student organization committed to encouraging volunteerism by UIU students; the program places teams of college students in communities to engage in positive social action and education. The goals can range from increasing cultural awareness, to bringing academic learning to life, or to creating a life-long service ethic.
The students have been fundraising for the trip. Upper Iowa University assists the Fayette County Habitat for Humanity and has formed a student chapter, too.
“Upper Iowa provides students with practical and educational experiences that complement their traditional classroom education,” said student activities director Darryl Grove. “Upper Iowa strives to provide social interaction as well as opportunities that will challenge students to explore leadership opportunities and to participate in a variety of programs that will foster their individual growth and development.”
Upper Iowa University students rebuilding homes in New Orleans include Jennifer Ranheim, Fayette, Iowa; Whitney Henke, Brayton, Iowa; Doug Akins, Marshalltown, Iowa; Chelsea Petersen, Oxford Junction, Iowa; Dan McCready, Elgin, Iowa; Kelli Kramer, West Union, Iowa; David Lammers, Palo, Iowa; Michael Cimprich, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Patrick Thomas, Milton, Iowa; Sasha Heiken, Winnebago, Ill.; David Epps, St. Louis, Mo.
“It’s not too late to assist these students,” said Grove. “I can’t think of a better spring break trip to finance than this one!”
Call 563-425-5311 to help finance Upper Iowa student’s trip to help rebuild New Orleans.