By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
NEW ALBANY —
SELLERSBURG — Migrating to warmer climates is nothing new for college spring breakers, but a group of Ivy Tech Community College students are looking to do just that next week while helping out the community.
This marks the second year that the college is sponsoring a spring break trip south to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. This year the group of 13 students and two advisors are headed to Tampa, Fla.
“Just creating a sense of volunteerism, service and community engagement is so important. We feel like that’s a large responsibility of what we do here in our office at Ivy Tech,” said Mary Springer, assistant vice chancellor of student life who has organized the trip.
Morgan Pearson, of Scottsburg, said she’s helped her family with multiple renovations, so she’s ready to work.
“I like to seize any opportunity that gives me a chance to make a difference in someone else’s life,” the 20-year-old said. “I feel that I’ve been extremely blessed and have had much success. I believe that continued success is dependent on my giving back to the community and helping someone else’s life.”
Pearson said the cost of the trip for the week is $75. There is only one “free day” where the students won’t be working. Students will work on a home for the rest of the days from the morning until the early afternoon hours, so that they have the rest of the afternoon and evenings free.
Allison Highfill, student government president, is also one of those going.
“I love volunteering and doing things for others,” she said. “Also, I [will] get to know students on campus whom I have never met before.”
She said students will be staying together at a place on the beach, taking turns cooking dinner each night.
“All I can say is I hope they like mac and cheese!” the 22-year-old said. “I am no 5-star chef, that’s for sure!”
Highfill said she is looking forward to what she will gain from the experience.
“Knowledge is power. I’m always excited to learn new things and how they operate,” she said. “I have never assisted in building a house, so I can already say it will be a great experience.”
Springer said she hopes that interest in this annual trip continues to grow each year.
“Eventually, we’d love to have the students initiating and picking the location and determining all the logistics,” she said. “That’s how Habitat designed their programs. We are still building that tradition and getting people involved.”
Springer said another benefit to going is the sense of community students will gain by getting to know some of their peers better. She said that having feeling can help them to complete college.
