KU News Release

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LAWRENCE — Sixty-four University of Kansas students will spend a week during winter break volunteering at nine sites across the United States.

Winter break begins Dec. 19. The spring 2010 term begins Jan. 14.

KU’s student-run Alternative Breaks program centers on service-learning trips that provide opportunities for students to include volunteer efforts in their educational experiences. Following their admittance to the program, students attend two-hour weekly classes to prepare for their trips. They may participate in weeklong winter or spring breaks or in shorter weekend breaks.

Students in Alternative Winter Breaks will work Jan. 3-10 with agencies in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas that focus on disaster relief, homelessness and women’s issues, human rights, health care, environmental preservation, animal sanctuary support, education and help for people with disabilities. The program costs participants $275 ($225 for site leaders) and covers their transportation, housing and meals.

KU students have volunteered at four of the locations in previous years. New destinations this year will be Alternatives for Girls, Detroit, Mich.; Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary, Austin, Texas; Cumberland Trails Conference, Crossville, Tenn.; Equality Ohio, Columbus, Ohio; and St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans, La.

Hannah Nusz, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., and Heidi Pierson, a senior from Clay Center, are Alternative Breaks co-directors. Alexandria Murnan, a senior from Pittsburg, and Molly Sailors, a senior from Perry, are the winter breaks site co-coordinators. Administrative advisers are Linda Luckey, assistant to the vice provost for academic affairs, and Rueben Perez, director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

The program was established at KU in 1995 with a spring break trip to El Paso, Texas. Since then it has expanded, with volunteer opportunities being added annually. Alternative Breaks works in partnership with KU’s Center for Community Outreach, a student-run and student-funded organization that manages 16 core volunteer programs plus additional local programs and serves as a coordinating group for KU students interested in volunteer projects.

KU participants in Alternative Winter Breaks are listed below by hometown, major, level in school, destination and leadership role, parents’ names (when available) and high school.

Alternative Winter Break sites

Alternatives for Girls, Detroit, Mich.
Site leaders: Jerica Curtin, Wichita sophomore, and Michelle Wilson, Lawrence freshman
Serving at-risk and homeless girls in southwest Detroit, this organization provides safe shelter, educational and vocational guidance, transportation, food, mentoring and counseling.
Web site: www.alternativesforgirls.org

Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary, Austin, Texas
Site leaders: Tessa Califano, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., sophomore, and Megan Murray, Wichita junior
With more than 300 animals across more than 100 species, this private nonprofit zoo serves the Austin community with its rescue/rehabilitation facility.
Web site: www.austinzoo.org

Cumberland Trail Conference, Crossville, Tenn.
Site leaders: Anna Archer, McPherson sophomore, and Jeff Zila, Overland Park senior
As a nonprofit organization, Cumberland Trail Conference assists with educational programs as well as building and maintaining more than 300 miles of hiking trail from the Cumberland Gap in eastern Kentucky southward nearly to Chattanooga, Tenn.
Web site: www.cumberlandtrail.org

Equality Ohio, Columbus, Ohio
Site leaders: Ryan Campbell, Olathe senior, and Alexandria Murnan, Pittsburg senior
Organized in 2005, Equality Ohio works on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender policies, including going out into the community with educational programs and advocating for policy actions statewide.
Web site: www.equalityohio.org

Give Kids the World, Kissimmee, Fla.
Site leaders: Eric Devlin, Ballwin, Mo., sophomore, and Anne Nzuki, Olathe sophomore
This nonprofit wish-granting resort facility near Orlando, Fla., creates memories for children with life-threatening illnesses.
Web site: www.gktw.org

Misericordia/Heart of Mercy, Chicago, Ill.
Site leaders: Sarah Hutchings, Topeka junior, and Molly Fyler, Lawrence junior
Operated by the Sisters of Mercy, Misericordia is home to more than 550 people with developmental disabilities, offering individually designed programs to help them achieve and maintain the highest level of independence possible.
Web site: www.misericordia.com

South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Spartanburg, S.C.
Site leaders: Audra Boxberger, Olathe junior, and Katie Law, Hutchinson junior
This specialized instructional and resource center with outreach centers throughout South Carolina works with deaf, blind and sensory-disabled individuals of all ages to provide educational, vocational and developmental services.
Web site: www.scsdb.k12.sc.us/

St. Bernard Project, New Orleans, La.
Site leaders: Briana Arensberg, Leawood junior, and Kayla Kuhl, Shawnee junior
By organizing volunteers to rebuild homes, this community-based nonprofit organization offers disaster relief for a community that suffered catastrophic damages in 2005 in hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Web site: www.stbernardproject.org

Teach for America, Chicago, Ill.
Site leaders: Laina Aboujawdeh, Overland Park senior, and Stephanie Thompson, Shawnee senior
This national corps consists of college graduates from all academic majors who commit to teaching for two years in under-resourced schools in urban and rural areas.
Web site: www.teachforamerica.org/about/regions/chicago.htm