While some students spent their spring break tanning at the beach or relaxing at home, seven University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith students opted to spend their time off from school conducting community service projects in New Orleans as part of an 鈥淎lternative Spring Break鈥� program at the university.
Accompanied by two AV抖阴 employees 鈥� Jasmine Smith, student activities coordinator, and Shannon Garcia, Greek life and leadership coordinator 鈥� students traveled to the Big Easy and completed nearly 100 hours of service during their three-day stay.
Projects included building a backyard garden for a family, mulching, and realigning headstones at Chalmette National Cemetery. Students also experienced the culture of New Orleans through a tour of the French Quarter, a visit to St. Louis Cathedral, a swamp tour, a guided ghost and history tour, and a visit to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
The trip marks a new effort by the university to offer safe, fun and meaningful spring break experiences for students, according to Smith.
鈥淚t was our goal to give students a chance to experience a different city, with a different culture than Fort Smith and to learn how to become active citizens,鈥� she said.
Kaley Underwood, one of the students who went on the trip, said it was a valuable experience.
鈥淭he Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans was a great opportunity to experience a new city while also performing meaningful service projects in the area,鈥� Underwood said. 鈥淣ew Orleans has such an exciting atmosphere and culture, and I鈥檓 was so excited to get to help them maintain their city and culture.鈥�
Students were:
Booneville: Holley Maness.
Fort Smith: Lane Dickinson and Asher Parvu.
Harrison: Mallorie Scroggie.
Oden: Kaley Underwood.
Sallisaw, Okla.: Joshua Simonds.
Summit, N.J.: Qasim Mian.