More than 100 students performing service over spring break

More than 100 students, or about 10 percent of the Cornell College student body, will be going on service trips in March as part of the college’s 11th annual Alternative Spring Break.

Students will be heading to trips in 10 different locations and working with community organizations to perform service and learn about issues that affect others. Trips include one to New Orleans, which will work with Volunteers of America of greater New Orleans to help create affordable housing for people with disabilities and senior citizens, and one to Huntsville, Alabama, which will work with students and adults with disabilities. Others are heading to Atlanta; Billings, Montana; Biloxi, Mississippi; Coalmont, Tennessee; El Paso, Galveston, and San Juan, Texas; and Memphis, Tennessee.

Groups spend the year planning the trip, fundraising, and educating themselves about the issues relevant to their service site. The trips, sponsored by the college’s Office of Civic Engagement follow the “Break Away” approach. Established by the national leader in coordinating and spearheading the Alternative Spring Break movement, the Break Away model includes eight components: Strong direct service, orientation, education, training, reflection, reorientation, diversity, and alcohol and drug free.

Last year, Cornell’s  program was ranked third nationally for per-capita participation, and one of only 15 schools in the nation that sent between 100 and 150 students on Alternative Spring Break trips.