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Bridgewater College students to Work with Habitat for Humanity in Florida over spring break

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bridgewaterA group of Bridgewater College students and two staff members will travel to Florida over spring break – not to spend all their time at the beach – but to volunteer as construction workers with Habitat’s Collegiate Challenge Spring Break 2014.

The students, accompanied by Bridgewater College staff members Stacie Horrell, assistant director of student activities, and David Nicholas, student accounts coordinator, will leave for Delray Beach, Fla., on Saturday, March 8, and return to campus the following weekend.

For the 2014 Spring Break Challenge, the group will work in partnership with the South Palm Beach County Habitat for Humanity.

To raise money for the trip, the group held a chili cook-off and a Spirit Night fundraiser at New York Flying Pizza in Bridgewater, Va.

Patricia Ann Moore, a senior biology major from Windsor, Va., and Maggie Reeger, a junior global studies major with a minor in cultural studies, from Shelocta, Pa., president and vice president respectively of the Bridgewater College Campus Chapter, are student leaders for the group.

Both Moore and Reeger are making their third Habitat trip. Over the past two years, they have traveled to Maryville, Tenn., and Sumter, S.C.

“With Habitat, I’m working in a way that matters to others that need it,” said Moore.

“I like traveling to a new place and doing something meaningful with my week away from school,” said Regger.

For both Moore and Reeger, a highlight of each trip has been working alongside the family that will eventually live in the house.

The BC Campus Chapter, established in 1995, is one of nearly 700 campus chapters worldwide. Organized by Bridgewater students, the group is affiliated with Central Valley Habitat for Humanity in Bridgewater, and helps provide shelter to the residents of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

This is the 22nd year that Bridgewater College students have used spring break to work on various Habitat projects, including three trips to Miami and one each to Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Independence, Mo. and Austin, Texas.

Now in its 38th year, Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing worldwide. The organization works in partnership with people in need throughout the world, building simple, decent shelter that is sold to them at no profit and financed with affordable loans.

In addition to Moore and Reeger, Bridgewater College students making the trip are:

Patricia A. Ajavon, a senior art and business administration double major from Sterling, Va.;

Aaron Akers, a senior business administration major with a minor in economics, from Manassas, Va.;

Morgan Bender, a sophomore health and exercise science major with a minor in nutrition and wellness, from Grantville, Pa.;

Madison Chilcote, a junior biology major, from Manchester, Md.;

Jennifer L. Conner, a freshman communication studies major, from Eldersburg, Md.;

Ashley B. Epping, a junior health and exercise science major, from Luray, Va.;

Jevone Fentress, a senior biology major, from Virginia Beach, Va.;

Larissa K. Gallaher, a junior art major, from Stephens City, Va.;

Jennifer Leigh Jewell, a senior communication studies major with a minor in coaching from Luray, Va.;

Melissa McMindes, a junior psychology major, from Stephens City, Va.;

Carolyn C. Nestman, a senior nutrition and wellness major, from Hackettstown, N.J.;

Cody L. Noblitt, a freshman environmental science major, from Waverly, Va.;

Nathan Stephenson, a junior global studies major with a minor in communication studies from Ellicott City, Md.; and

Shelley Weachter, a junior mathematics major, from Manassas, Va.

Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Founded in 1880, it was the state’s first private, coeducational college. Today, Bridgewater College is home to approximately 1,850 undergraduate students.

 

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