Students use spring break to do community service around the world

By Ryan, March 29, 2016

By Rock Collier // Staff Writer

During spring break, High Point University students volunteered to travel around the globe to transform the lives of the less fortunate. Students were given the opportunity to travel to Haiti, Hemingway, South Carolina or Pensacola, Florida to participate in an Alternative Spring Break service project.
Members from the HPU chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, traveled to Pensacola, Florida and worked with the National Parks Service to help protect the historical preservation of the San Antonio Water Battery at Fort Barrancas.
“The fort was used by the Spanish and later by the United States,” said Jody Bowman, Spanish professor. “It played a role in the American Civil War and was used as part of a defense systems until the late 1800’s to protect against foreign attacks. During their week, students painted the interior and exterior walls, caulked cracks, mixed and applied stucco to damaged parts of the fort walls and lubricated door hinges to prevent original doors and windows from deteriorating.”
“I was fortunate to be able to volunteer on this alternative spring break,” said student Jess Dow. “Being able to help preserve parts of our country’s history was an honor. During this trip, I grew as a leader and I gained perspective and appreciation for those who work year round to preserve historical landmarks.”
In October of 2015, South Carolina had major flooding that brought much damage to much of the state. A group of 14 students helped repair two houses in Hemingway, South Carolina, by installing new floors, replacing ceiling tiles and repairing damaged walls.
“This experience, like all other mission trips I have been on, was a great experience for me,” said student Julia Zipp. “I was able to see how much these people needed our help because they were living with mold, broken roofs and ceilings and bubbled floors.”
“Not only will you help a family in need, you will also learn valuable home improvement skills that you might need to use in the future,” said student Matthew Hendrix. “Besides working, you will have the opportunity to bond with other HPU students.”
By partnering with other communities such as Oakridge United Methodist Church in South Carolina, Alternative Spring Break trips are one of many ways that HPU students, faculty and staff contribute more than 100,000 hours of service locally, nationally and internationally each year.
Through the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Haiti, 10 students built a home for a mother with three young children who were living under a tarp in the dirt. The students shoveled the foundation for the home, mixed and poured concrete by hand, built the framing of the roof, and put up all four walls for the home. At the end of each day, the students would play sports and spend time with the children at the orphanage.
“This trip was so much more than helping the people of Haiti for a week or building a house for a family in need,” said student Lily Kate Tollison. “Haiti is a beautiful, culturally rich country with some of the most caring and faithful people I have ever met. This is a place where we built a home for a woman who will stay in our hearts forever and where 67 children taught us the meaning of unconditional love.”
The impact of these service trips even goes beyond the people and families in need. “Alpha Phi Omega concentrates on giving within the High Point community for the majority of the academic year,” Carrie Wilson said. “Alternative breaks allow students to think globally. I wanted to see a bigger picture. I wanted to impact another community in a distinct way.”