For Southern Arkansas University’s 2017 Alternative Spring Break, 45 SAU students provided community service to the women’s shelter in Amarillo, Texas, in route to the ski vacation in Winter Park, Colorado.
Students from this area include: Roxanne Atkins, a junior mathematics major; Ayanna Carter, a freshman elementary education major; Kaylee Franks, a junior political science major; Marley Gore, a sophomore pre-dental hygiene major; Gregory Hall, a graduate kinesiology coaching major; Ranija Keener, a freshman K-6 elementary education major; Colten Lindsey, a freshman exercise science major; Arlesia Taylor, a graduate public administration major; and Payton Turner, a freshman nursing (BSN) major, all of Magnolia.
The group helped sanitize and organize inventory at local thrift stores that benefit the women’s shelter. Students also prepared meals for residents at the shelter and assembled toys for their families. Following completion of the service projects, the group headed to Winter Park, Colorado, to ski the remaining break away.
This year’s trip was organized by Lydia Lindsey, SAU student activities coordinator, and chaperoned by faculty members Haley Burrow, Carey Baker, and Kerri and Steven Ochs.
Since 2010, SAU Student Activities has been organizing spring break trips as opportunities for students to volunteer their service to communities in need. In the past, students have visited homeless shelters in New Orleans and a children’s home in Colorado. SAU students have participated in handing out food, building food gardens, cleaning homeless shelters, and working with children in orphanages.
“This allows the students to experience new adventures outside of the SAU community,” said Kandice Herron, assistant dean of campus activities. “These trips have been eye-opening for many of our students and they are very humbling experiences.”