Emma Schneider to participate in alternative spring break program

2015 Mar 23

For many college students, spring break is a week to take it easy. But 69 students from Missouri University of Science and Technology will instead spend an eye-opening week learning how others struggle and discovering ways they can help.

The students are involved in Missouri S&T's Miner Challenge, a week-long alternative spring break program that gives them a chance to help individuals and communities affected by issues like poverty, homelessness, a lack of access to education and natural disasters, while developing their own leadership skills. This is the eighth year of the program.

This year students will spend their time doing service work in Nicaragua, Arkansas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Teams leave on Saturday, March 21, and return on Sunday, March 29.

Emma Schneider, a freshman in environmental engineering from Maple Lake, Minnesota, will travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to partner with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Individuals and businesses that are interested in helping sponsor the students are encouraged to visit the Miner Challenge website at minerchallenge.mst.edu. So far, the group has raised about $25,000 for the trips.

"Our students' dedication to ensuring quality of life and dignity for all members of our global community is far-reaching," says John Gallagher, director of student life at Missouri S&T. "We look toward expanding programs to accommodate every student who wishes to participate."

"Participants of Miner Challenge strive to dream big, work hard and change lives," says Ben White, coordinator of volunteerism and involvement at Missouri S&T. "The students appreciate all of the donation they have received to date from local businesses and community members."