Geraldine Stirtz
director of the Office of Service-Learning, 308.865.8957
Spring break doesn’t always mean basking in the sunshine on sandy beaches, skiing your favorite slopes or getting a jump start on your summer suntan for students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Instead, for many who attend this central Nebraska campus, spring break means spending time in the service of others.
The UNK Office of Service Learning, UNK Residential and Greek Life, Christian Student Fellowship and others are sponsoring “working” spring breaks spent in Arlington, Texas; Chicago, Ill; Denver, Colo.; Sabinas, Mexico; and other communities that need helping hands.
In Arlington, Sarah Mills of Arnold, Regina Zaruba of Bennington, and Misty Dvorak and Traci Sheel, both of Grand Island, are working with youth, ages 6-18, through the Boys and Girls Club. The club focuses on five program areas– Education and Career Development; Character and Leadership Development; Health and Life Skills; Sports, Fitness and Recreation; and the Arts.
In Chicago, Breann Horn of Holdrege, Nohad Maloley of Lexington and Annie Bierbower of Wakefield are working with underprivileged children, seniors and the disabled in an urban setting. The volunteer opportunities include working in food kitchens and food banks as well as working with other community organizations and shelters such as Cathedral Shelter of Chicago and AIDS CARE of Chicago.
In Denver, Eric Schroetlin of Butte, Lindsey Peters of Loup City, Coraline Pelloquin Lyon of France, and Annetie Ouko of Kenya are working with several groups that need a helping hand, including parks and recreation programs, Habitat for Humanity and other environmental agencies in the Front Range area.
In Sabinas, Mexico, approximately 50 students and sponsors from Christian Student Fellowship are doing construction projects for churches, restocking a recently established medical clinic, and hosting a Vacation Bible School and carnival for area children.
Among the UNK students serving in Sabinas, Mexico, are:
Arcadia- Melanie Moore
Axtell- Brett Lindau
Broken Bow- Nick Brennan
Columbus- Chrystal DeNio, Cassie Schaneman
Franklin- Stefanie Schaefer
Gothenburg- Dan Butterfied
Grand Island- Josh Casey, Ruth Jensen, John Ludwig
Greenwood- Tessa Mills
Hastings- Des Hofferber, Kristen Horton, Nicci Horton
Inman- Sarah Tompkins
Kearney- Abby Gerdes, Alisha Loseke, Christine Loseke, Luke Moore, Elizabeth Stevens
Lexington- Tom McCarty, Kayla Paris, Melissa Sanger
Litchfield- Jerry Arnold, Jr.
Loomis- Brittany Earsom
Lincoln- Jeremy Gallant, Rebecca Holmstedt
Minden- Christina Lewis
Omaha- Stephanie Queen, Molly Skiles
Ord- Lindsey Hackel, Brian Vavra
Ravenna- Jeremy Wilke
KANSAS
Overland Park- Brian Kaiser
