University of New England

16 UNE students help build homes with Habitat for Humanity during spring break 

BIDDEFORD, Maine - For 16 University of New England students, spring break this year was a much more meaningful experience than catching rays and partying day and night at a popular resort. 

The students used their time over 2008 spring break (March 10-17) to travel to Peoria, Ariz., to help build houses for four different families. 

Working with Habitat for Humanity of the West Valley as part of the Collegiate Challenge program, the students worked at two sites, the Amor de Christo Habitat for Humanity subdivision in Avondale, Ariz., and the Johnson Townhomes housing development in Surprise, Ariz., which will eventually include six sets of five-unit townhomes.

In Avondale work was done on two homes, one for a single mother with three children and the other for a family of nine from Sudan. Work at the site included, sheetrock installation, trim work and painting, and landscaping.

In Surprise, students worked on two different townhomes and worked to install insulation, hang sheetrock, and paint. During the course of the three days in Surprise the students were able to completely paint an entire unit and install all the insulation and half of the sheetrock in the other unit. On the last day of the work students had the opportunity to participate in a house dedication, a ceremony in which the family is given the keys to the home and is able to move-in. This was a great chance to see a completed house and witness the excitement and gratification the family had for everyone who helped them through the process. 

Seventh Year at UNE
This is the seventh year that the Habitat for Humanity club has taken an alternative spring break trip.  Previous trips have gone to various locations in Florida and South Carolina. The students worked with Amy Deveau, assistant professor of chemistry, and Megan Rochelo, Citizenship Service learning coordinator, to make the trip a reality. 

Planning, organizing, and fundraising for this trip began as soon as students arrived on campus in the fall. During the trip, the UNE students worked for five days and had two days to travel on their own. 

The students raised more than $8,000 to fund their trip. They created special fund-raising events, sold rice bags and gingerbread houses, participated in gift wrapping in conjunction with the Greater Portland Habitat for Humanity, held numerous bake sales and received donations from other UNE students, faculty and staff. 

Participants
The participating students are: Tiffany Batchelder '08, Stephanie Bliss '08, Amy Carlson '09, Melissa Davio '09, Cory Guenette '09, Andrea Kelley '09 Kristi Lee '08, Jennifer Manzone '10, Emily Mercker '09, Amanda Milose '08, Elin Munson '08, Rachele Peterson '08, Meredith Roy '08, Kristin Totte '10, Marilyn Tushar '11, and Mike Wynot '09. Megan Rochelo, Citizenship Service learning coordinator, supervised the student trip. 

(Press release posted March 31, 2008)