Arts and construction and tigers...'Oh my!': Students volunteer during spring break
March 16, 2010Thirty-five Rowan University students spent their spring break giving of their time and talents in service projects from Florida to Camden.
As part of Rowan's Alternative Spring Break program, a student-run program organized by the Office of Service Learning, Volunteerism & Community Engagement, students worked in four different service projects March 15-19.
"Our goal was to have uniquely different service projects on each of the trips," says Andrew Perrone, Rowan's director of Service Learning, Volunteerism & Community Engagement. "Different projects appeal to different types of students, so it was important for us to offer our students a variety of experiences.
"This was a student-run initiative," Perrone continues. "In the fall, we pulled a student leadership team together and asked them, ‘What do you think Rowan students would want to experience?' The students planned the trips."
The service projects included:
Shands HealthCare
Gainesville, Fla.
In a project that combined arts and medicine, Rowan students worked with Shands Arts in Medicine, a program that integrates the arts in the healing process for people who are hospitalized. Students assisted artists to run workshops and other group activities for children and adults in the hospital. Additionally, they helped to build an arts-related, multi-sensory garden on the campus.
Rowan students were the first students to join Shands for an ASB project, according to Perrone, who was the adviser for the trip.
Students on the trip included: Brianne Crines (student leader/organizer), senior, theater/child drama major from Wall; Sean Magerr, junior, history and secondary education major from Swedesboro; Jenna Ings, junior, art major, Rockaway; Robert Crowthers, senior, radio/television/film major, Laurel Springs; Courtney Mackey, senior, health and exercise science major, Riverdale; Julissa Mesa, freshman, journalism major, Passaic; Markita Tabb, sophomore, writing arts major, Riverside; and Wendy Lopez, junior, psychology major; North Bergen.
Carolina Tiger Rescue
Pittsboro, N.C.
Students worked at the non-profit wildlife sanctuary to improve animal habitats and raise awareness about the sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to big cats, small cats, and other small animals.
Students on the trip included: Veronica McCallum (student leader/organizer), junior, elementary education/liberal studies major, Pompton Lakes; Brielle Greco, sophomore, biological science major, Hackettstown; Maria Constantini, senior, biological science major, Mays Landing; Michelle Norris, junior, elementary education/liberal studies major, Millstone; Jayne Dzuback, sophomore, English and education major, Fanwood; Amanda Biggers, senior, physics major, Wilmington, Del.; Alexandra Gencarelli, junior, studio art/graphic design major, Pompton Plains; and Krista Forni, freshman, journalism major, Fords. The adviser for the trip is Sue Hersh, a professional staff member who works as the lead technical trainer for Rowan's Information Resources Training Services Department.
Morris Cafritz Center for Community Service
Washington, D.C.
In partnership with Morris Cafritz, Behrend Builders organizes volunteers to go into low-income neighborhoods in the nation's capital to repair, renovate and repaint individual homes, community centers, schools, shelters, parks and other vital community spaces.
During the week, Rowan students painted Veronica's House, a women's shelter, and, also, helped a family with a drywall and tiling project in their home. Additionally, students volunteered with the Capital Area Food Bank.
Students on the trip included: Jill Sanders (student leader/organizer), senior, environmental studies major, Cinnaminson; Christina Gennaoui, senior, physics major, Glassboro; Kimberly Jordan, sophomore, law and justice studies major, Trenton; Anna Marie Morlino, junior, mathematics major, Marlton; Cecilia Sloan, junior, sociology major, Williamstown; Talana O'Brien, senior, public relations major, Lumberton; Valerie Lynn Buccino, senior, public relations and journalism major, Hillsborough; and Carly Buccino, freshman, early childhood education and writing arts major, Hillsborough. The trip's adviser was Rhiannon Napoli, a graduate student in higher education/educational leadership from Westville.
Local Outreach
Glassboro and Camden
Students stayed close to home to do service in on- and off-campus projects. They helped with the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, did a landscaping project on Rowan's campus, and socialized with senior citizens at Glassboro's Post House. They volunteered to read, do crafts, and conduct a science experiment with preschoolers in Camden.
Students volunteering for the project included: Amanda Irish (student leader/organizer), freshman, liberal studies major, Ocean; Kristen L. Patterson, junior, biological science major, Mullica Hill; Antoine Braxton, freshman, radio/television/film major, Woodstown; Alexandra Garber, junior, sociology major, Fanwood; Allison Catenacci, junior, biological science major, Mullica Hill; Angara Beaubrun, freshman, liberal studies/humanities/social sciences major, Hamilton; Raven Holloway, graduate student in higher education/educational leadership, Philadelphia; Aaron Holloman, graduate student in higher education/educational leadership, Camden; and Jon Bouchard, graduate student in higher education/educational leadership, South Amboy.
