Randolph Alternative Spring Break Reaches Out to Local Community

Written By: Mi Dan Nguyen ‘14

Published in March 2014

In fall semester 2013, the Office of Leadership and Engagement organized Randolph Colleges first Alternative Fall Break, in which a group of students traveled to Camp Friendship in Palmyra, VA. The students spent their fall break helping the camp’s staff prepare for a Fall Family Weekend and assisting with other needs. It was indeed a meaningful learning experience for the students.

This semester, the Office of Leadership and Engagement once again offered an Alternative Spring Break trip for Randolph students.

On the last day of class, Friday, March 7th, 11 students gathered for the first time and had a brief departure meeting with Amanda Denny, the advisor of The Office of Leadership and Engagement. They left on Saturday morning for Carolina Beach in North Carolina, where they had their not-so-average spring break.

The Randolph Crew from the Alternative Spring Break volunteering at the New Vista School.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Denny.

 On the first day, after catching a ferry to visit Bald Head Island, the group volunteered at First Fruit Ministry — a shelter for runaway and abused kids and homeless people in Wilmington.

On Monday, the group volunteered at PAWS Place Pet Rescue and Habitat for Humanity Restore.

On the last day in North Carolina, the students went to North Carolina Aquarium and participated in Beach Sweep, cleaning the beach by picking up bottles, glass, and trash.

After 5 days in Carolina Beach, the group returned to campus on Wednesday, March 12^th, to continue their volunteer work at New Vistas School, doing gardening, cleaning, and weeding work.

Randolph students with Amanda Denny on break volunteering at PAWS Place Rescue.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Denny.

One of the participants, Ei Thant Sin ’16, said she particularly enjoyed the work at PAWS Pet Place Rescue. “Although I have done several volunteer back home before college, I have never done any volunteer work regarding animals. The founder of PAWS told me and other students a fascinating story about how rescued dogs are taken care and it appeals to me in a different perspective from how I used to look at animals. Overall, it was a fun educational and productive trip.”

Abigail Smith’ 15 was one of the student leaders and organizers of the trip. She is the community service intern with Amanda Denny this semester. “I was so excited for the trip and happy that so many people were interested in going,” she explained. “But I wish that we had more resources so that we did not have turn anyone down. To whom much is given, much is expected. For international students like me, it was definitely an eye-opening experience to be able to see the poor areas and community in need that I did not know about America.”

The aim of Alternative Spring Break is to provide students with a fun and meaningful learning experience through which the students can help others in need. It’s also a community building experience. During the break, the students got to live together in a beautiful beach house, made their own group meals, and spent quality time getting to know one another.

Hopefully, the college will continue to offer alternative breaks every year as excellent opportunities for our students to participate and do their parts, be active, benefit the community and work towards lifelong active citizenship.