Student volunteers travel to the ‘Volunteer State’

By Samantha Savaglio

UW-Parkside First Year Experience will be traveling with 12 students to Tennessee during the 2013 spring break week to assist Habitat for Humanity in building homes for the community. Students will connect with each other, explore a new community, and aspire to serve others.

First Year Experience provides freshman with educational programs that integrate academic, social, and personal experiences within a community of social equality. Participating in Habitat for Humanity International Collegiate Challenge, the group of freshman will work from dawn to dusk for five days, helping eliminate poverty housing in Anderson County.

Andrea Zick, Associate Student Services Coordinator, describes the trip as a humbling experience. "It is a lot of hard work, but inspiring and fun."

In providing decent and affordable housing, this project helps students to learn homeownership skills through hands-on experience and team work. It also provides them with networking opportunities and a sneak-peak into potential career fields.

Students will stay in a local church where they will be provided with necessities. When the students are allowed free time, they will explore the regional culture.

"It's important for them to learn how poverty is diverse throughout locations," Zick states. This holds especially true with the current poverty rate still ranked as the highest percentage in almost two decades. 

Although this is the first time FYE will be participating in HFH, UW-Parkside students have been traveling throughout the nation with this organization for years. The Habitat for Humanity campus chapter, directed by Christopher Zanowski, takes annual trips.

 "Giving good service is a great feeling," Zick assures.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 10/22/2012

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