Marquette Students Spend Their Spring Break in “Collegiate Challenge” by Rick A
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 27, Number 18 Thursday, May 12, 2011 Marquette Students Spend Their Spring Break in “Collegiate Challenge” by Rick A. Richards Thirty-fi ve Marquette Catholic High School students took their Spring Break to take part in a Habitat for Humanity Project in Birmingham, Alabama. Spring break conjures up visions of sandy beach- est). In exchange, homeowners must contribute 300 es, bright sunshine and partying late into the night. hours of “sweat equity” and attend a 10-hour home The idea that spring break would include sticky ownership class. red mud, lots of physical labor and sleeping on a Marquette Students Continued on Page 2 concrete fl oor isn’t anyone’s defi nition of a good time except for 35 Marquette Catholic High School stu- dents and their eight chaperones who spent their spring break in Birmingham, Ala., working on a Habitat for Humanity home. The trip was organized by senior Olivia Haas. “I wanted to do something worthwhile for someone else and I really wanted it to be something big,” said Haas. Through the Collegiate Challenge program, she was put in touch with the Birmingham Habitat for Humanity. Collegiate Challenge annually works with 14,000 students at 700 colleges and high schools to orga- nize community service projects that can be done during spring break. It put Marquette in touch with Birmingham Habitat for Humanity because Bir- The eight adult chaperones who accompanied 35 Marquette Catholic mingham has one of the largest building projects of High School students to Birmingham, Ala., to help with a Habitat for Humanity project were, from left, Donovan Garletts, a teacher and any Habitat organization in the country. coach at Marquette; Tim Haas; Andi Haas; Sally Mussman; Lisa Albers; Each year, it builds between 40 and 45 home Peggy Rose; Carol Flores; and Kerrie Schludecker, athletic director at which are sold to families at cost (with no inter- Marquette. (Photo provided by Lisa Albers) THE Page 2 May 12, 2011 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. because they were so mud-caked and dirty. Even with all that, Carli Albers (Lisa’s daughter), described the trip as “a great experience.” “I saw how others were in need,” Carli said. “The area where we were working was really gorgeous and people were so nice. They were glad we were there helping on the project.” Carli Albers and Emmy Marquette Catholic High School students worked on two of fi ve Habitat Welsh for Humanity homes in this Birmingham, Ala., neighborhood. None of the admire their homes were damaged in the recent outbreak of tornadoes, although one roof single of the Habitat supervisors who worked with Marquette lost his home in installation the outbreak. on a Habitat Marquette Students Continued from Page 1 for Humanity home in During their week in Birmingham, Marquette Birmingham, students worked in a neighborhood where fi ve Ala. Habitat homes are under construction. They com- pleted two roofs and insulated two homes and also prepared homes for drywall and siding installation. They also spent a day cleaning up a Habitat for Hu- manity warehouse. Lisa Albers, a chaperone, said that in addition to helping families, the trip provided an excellent Conner Post said the trip was a great way to give learning opportunity. “Part of the experience was back. “We get to go home to a large house at the living and working together. You fi nd out a lot about end of the day and here other people don’t have any- people when you do that,” said Albers, adding that where to go. This was a way to see the other side. I learning to live together began with the 11-hour bus thought Birmingham was an awesome place, but it ride from Michigan City to Birmingham. “We bond- a whole different culture.” ed as a group.” Dominic Fumo (whose parents are physicians) is No laptop computers or video games were allowed familiar with the concept of giving back because he on the trip, which allowed the students to focus on has accompanied his parents when they have pro- what they were doing. At night, for entertainment, vided help in Haiti. they played cards or board games in the basement “I enjoy community service. It’s a good way to ex- of the church where they were staying. perience life,” said Fumo. She said the work day started at 8 a.m. and ended Emmy Welsh said she wouldn’t have gone on the at 4 p.m., but that didn’t include cooking, shopping trip on her own, but since it was a school project she for meals and the massive amount of clean up that wanted to be a part of it. “I know there are people needed to take place because of torrential rain that who could have used this kind of help in Michigan turned Alabama’s red clay into a glue-like muck. City, but this was an opportunity to get out of Michi- (The trip for Marquette happened in mid-April, be- gan City and see someplace different.” fore the recent outbreak of tornadoes there.) Each of them described the trip as “fun” and as Lisa Albers said that when the week was done, an opportunity to spend time with their friends and most of the students simply threw their shoes away get to know others in the school better. THE May 12, 2011 Page 3 Garden Gathering Social At Rittenhouse “Happiness held is the seed, happiness shared is the flower.” - unknown author Marquette Catholic High School students team up to complete the roof on this Habitat for Humanity home in Alabama. “We all connected with each other,” said Welsh. Post said the trip brought everyone closer to- gether. “I’m not kidding, there was a three-cushion couch in the church basement where we were stay- ing, and at times, there were 20 of us sitting on it.” Besides working all day at the Habitat site, Post was in charge of feeding the large group. He planned the menu, shopped for the food and then prepared the meals at the end of the day. “He’s a really good cook,” said Lisa Albers. “He did a great job at it. He really took the responsibil- ity seriously.” Welsh said that since she’s returned to Michigan City she’s had time to refl ect on the trip. “I think it gave me a real appreciation for what I have. The people we met down there were so grateful for our Thursday, help.” May 19 Fumo said he was glad to be giving to someone else. “You don’t realize how something small like 4:00-6:30 p.m. that changes lives. You don’t have to change the world to accomplish something good.” Marquette Students Continued on Page 4 Join us for an evening of Garden Charm, Bloom Some Friends, Cultivate Conversation and Enjoy the Harvest Hors d’oeuvres, Beverage Bar and Desserts 4300 Cleveland Avenue Michigan City, IN 46360 219-872-6800 Marquette’s Erin Krueger takes her turn at installing insulation for Habitat for Humanity in Birmingham, Ala. THE Page 4 May 12, 2011 Marquette’s Connor Post was in charge of the dinner committee Jordan Kniola (on ladder), Carli Albers (bending down) and Emmy Welsh and besides working construction during the day, planned help install roof shingles on a Habitat for Humanity home in the daily menu and helped cook the meal. Birmingham, Ala. Marquette Students Continued from Page 3 Carli Albers described the trip as “a great op- portunity. I can tell you that after this trip, I’m not afraid to touch a spider web, that’s for sure.” She said the trip wasn’t for someone who was afraid to get their hands dirty, and between nailing roof shingles and installing insulation, Albers said she got plenty dirty. “What I got out of the trip was respect for my fel- low man,” said Post. He also said he enjoyed meeting Norma and her two children, the family that was to move into one of the houses where they worked. “She was very nice and so appreciative,” said Post. “She hugged all of us.” Sydney Mussman, Dominic Fumo and Mary Salyer prepare dinner for Principal James White said he was proud of the Marquette’s 35 students and eight chaperones. Marquette students and chaperones who made the trip. “Service to others is a reminder of our purpose here on earth. Mission trip experiences are life- changing and this is what Marquette Catholic is all about,” said White. Other students making the trip were Caroline Alexander, Christina Bar, Gretchen Billys, Park- er Buell, Patrick Cannon, Grace Connelly, Bryan Cress, Alley Duers, Emily Eisele, Hala Filipowicz, Carolina Flores, Ambrose Haas, Olivia Haas, Marisa Hernandez, Shannon Howe, Laima Kaukaite, Zach Knibbs, Jordan Kniola, Erin Krueger, Lucy Lee, Keith Louie, Maureen McDonald, Sydney Muss- man, Brendan Robson, Meghan Roder, Mary Saly- er, Abigail Skwiat, Mary Katherine Slattery, Nickie Smith, Genevieve St.