Fairfield Now - Summer 2009
A Deeper Spring Break
Teams of Fairfield students went to Kentucky, New Orleans, Washington, and South Dakota to lend a helping hand
By Virginia Weir
While most students were on vacation the first week of March, 44 Fairfield students and eight staff spent spring break rebuilding houses in Kentucky and New Orleans, repairing houses and constructing bunk beds on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and serving food and working in an afterschool program in Washington, D.C.
Experiencing different cultures in the context of service is a powerful and often transforming experience for students, as well as a key component of Fairfield's strategic commitment to helping students engage with the greater world. Each year, approximately 40 Fairfield students participate in service trips within the U.S. during their spring break; an additional 50 take part in international service trips throughout the year.
"I learned so much about hunger and homelessness present in our country," said Gretta Schwamb '11 of the week she spent in Washington, D.C. "This trip was definitely a life-altering experience."
Kristian Petric '11, who went to Kentucky, reflected on how lucky he is. "(The trip) inspired me to take nothing for granted, to work as hard as I can since there are many people out there who do not have the same opportunity as I do - and to be willing to give of myself for those less fortunate."
"(The Lakotas) are the most genuine, welcoming, peaceful people I have ever met," said Kim Lovato '09, who spent her time in South Dakota putting up new walls and ceilings in a trailer home. "They have a beautiful and unique culture that I hope will be preserved for generations to come."
Returning to campus from the Kentucky trip, Rose Mathis '11 noted, "I'm not 'sweating the small stuff' - my little desires and annoyances. I feel like I have a bigger picture, a better perspective."
One group of Fairfield students went to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They stopped for lunch at a local eatery, called Bette's Kitchen. Bette's granddaughter is seen here riding her tricycle in the yard with the Badlands in the distance.
Washington, D.C.
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Colleen Wilson '11 and Kristin Koldras '11 from the Washington, D.C. trip served food at the S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) soup kitchen. "I have learned so much... everyone comes from a different background, a different family, and a different town, but we all had one thing in common: we wanted to perform service and have fun while doing it," Wilson said. "I encourage everyone to participate in a service trip before graduating." |
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The D.C. team also worked at an afterschool program called Children of Mine in the Anacostia section of the city. Kerri MacKay '11 and Tara Rupp from Fairfield's Residence Life Office took a basketball break with some students from the program. |
New Orleans
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Taylor Callahan '12 became a dry wall "expert" by week's end. |
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Twelve students travelled to New Orleans to work with Camp Restore, an organization established to rebuild houses, churches, and schools in the area after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The blue poles indicate water levels after the storm in the Lower Ninth Ward section. Picture (back to front): Ashton DiDonato '10, Chrissy Matosian '09, Liz Monari '10, Caroline McClatchy '09, Christine Caples '11, Kristin Villanueva '09, Taylor Callahan '12, Ali Childs '11, Andrew Gutierrez '10, Wanda Szarek '11, Katlyn Griffin '11, and Ryan Duggan '11. |
Kentucky
For the past seven years, Fairfield students have traveled to Flatgap, Ky., to work with the Christian Appalachia Project to rebuild and repair homes in one of the poorest regions of the country. |
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The Kentucky group had the opportunity to meet the governor of West Virginia while attending Mass in Charleston. Pictured from left to right are Kristian Petric '11, Joe Mercadante '10, Suzanne Potter '11, Rose Mathis '11, Governor Joe Manchin and his wife Gayle, Virginia Weir, Donna O'Neill '10, Jim Fitzpatrick '70, M.A.'72, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, James Sinon '10, Caroline Sherbarth '10, and Chris Hurley '11. |
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Virginia Weir from Fairfield's Marketing and Communications Division (standing, center) and Donna O'Neill '10 (seated on right) learned a few things about shingling roofs with volunteers and students from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois. |
South Dakota
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Twelve students embarked on the first University service trip to Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota as volunteers for Re-Member, an outreach project which works to improve the quality of life on the reservation for the Oglala Lakota Nation. Kristianna Sciarra '09 and Eric Clayton '11 planed two-by-fours in preparation for constructing bunk beds. |