First Ever Alternative Spring Break to Help Katrina Victims

For the first time ever, students from the University of Bridgeport will be participating in an alternative spring break program coordinated by the Office of Student Programming & Community Services and the UB Student Government Association. Nine UB students have been selected to serve as “Norge W. Jerome Service Scholars” and will be traveling to Selma, Alabama; McClain, Mississippi and New Orleans to assist with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts from March 3-11, 2006. Through the generosity of UB Board of Trustees member Norge W. Jerome, the trip will be all-expenses paid for the selected students. The trip was initiated and researched by Edina R. Oestreicher, Director of Student Programming & Community Services.
Close to 30 students applied to become service scholars and following an application review and interview, the following nine students were selected; Yuanli Shentu (Hangzhou, China), Monica Geneva (Lovech, Bulgaria), Kimel Greenslade (Freeport, Bahamas), Rui Huang (Mianyang, China), Velina Karamuncheva (Sofia, Bulgaria), Souhourou Koudoro (Cotonou, Benin), Shalishea Laws (Bridgeport, CT), Hillary Pankey (Sicklerville, NJ), and Jonathan Sutkitis (Waterbury, CT). Accompanying the students will be Angela Santiago, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Science and Mathematics Department and Edina R. Oestreicher, Director of Student Programming & Community Services.
The “Norge W. Jerome Service Scholars” will be partnering with the Service for Peace and CHASM (Caring, Helping, Aiding, Supporting and Mentoring) organizations to engage in rebuilding and restoration efforts in communities damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The participants will also be providing educational and cultural programs for elementary school children in the affected areas. A feature of the week-long program will include presentations on Dr. Martin Luther King and the significant local history and culture of the civil rights movement in Alabama. Students will also be engaged in daily reflection, discussion and journal writing to explore and document their responses to the volunteer work.