This March, the University Scholars Program sponsored four Alternative Spring Break excursions. The trips explored a variety of topics: fair trade coffee in Costa Rica, civil rights in Selma, public health with San Francisco, and immigration in San Juan.
On Tuesday, April 19, the Scholars Program celebrated the completion of another fantastic year. In the Curry Ballroom, Scholars who participated in Alternative Spring Breaks presented to peers, faculty, and staff. Below you will find short videos produced by our servant leaders about their civic engagement.
This group spent a week in Selma, Alabama learning about the history and legacy of civil rights. The group had the chance to visit historical sights and learn more about the lasting impact of the civil rights movement on Selma. The group worked with Something New and helped the local community by sorting textbooks, helping organize storage rooms, and interacting with students at Something New programming.
The trip to San Francisco explored public health and volunteered with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Project Open Hand, and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. The group learned about disparities and how they can continue to work in their own communities to bring awareness and change to stigmas on disability and HIV/AIDS.
The students who went to Costa Rica explored the world of fair trade coffee. The students worked with a local school on repairs and teaching English while learning about the fair trade market and the working conditions for farmers.
La Union del Pueble Entero (LUPE) was the service partner for the Scholars who went to San Juan, Texas to discover more about immigration. LUPE, an organization founded by Cesar Chavez, helps low-income communities organize themselves and advocate for immigration issues. The students visited the US-Mexico border, participated in the local International Women's Day march, and helped LUPE flyer and administer health assessment questionnaires.