Waynesburg University hosted two service trips over winter break to North Carolina and Florida to assist with hurricane relief efforts and marine life conservation. 

Adrienne Tharp, associate dean of Student Development at Waynesburg University, said, “I love serving my community,” when asked why she dedicates herself to organizing and leading the University’s service trips. 

Tharp plays a key role in coordinating these trips. 

Over winter break, the leadership of the service initiatives was also supported by Grace Deep, resident director and bonner coordinator, and Dr. Christian Hayes, assistant professor of Biology and director of Marine Science at the Au Sable Institute. Together, they helped guide students on meaningful service journeys.

Deep led a service trip group of 11 students to North Carolina in early January. The group traveled to North Carolina outside Asheville to help with hurricane relief efforts. Deep explained that no two days were the same, having several projects active at one time while working on the damage left by Hurricane Helene. 

“Some projects were at families’ houses, some [were at] businesses and others were sites,”  Deep stated. “At the houses or businesses, they [the students] helped remove any damage that was caused by the water, removed mud and sanitized houses to get them ready to be rebuilt. Silverado’s Distribution Center is a drive through distribution where affected families can come and get essential items. As an example, they could get heaters, food, diapers, tents, blankets, batteries etc. [At] World Central Kitchen, students helped prep and cook a meal to be given to community members for free.”

Students were able to provide physical, hands-on help to those affected by Hurricane Helene, leaving an impact that survivors will see over time. This trip, led by Deep, will not only impact the lives of those being served, but also those serving. 

Tharp explained that she felt a calling to help, similar to many students on Waynesburg University’s campus. Both Tharp and Deep expressed that it is one thing for students to see the damage through photos online, but seeing it–seeing the devastating damage– in person transforms their perspectives greatly. 

Deep said, “I believe this gave the students the opportunity to reflect on what they have in their life. We often take a lot of things for granted and this was a very humbling experience.”

While the hurricane relief trip provided immediate assistance to communities in need, another group of students took part in a service trip that focused on preserving the delicate ecosystems of the oceans. 

This trip, dedicated to marine life conservation and led by Hayes, offered students the opportunity to engage with vital environmental efforts and learn about the importance of protecting marine biodiversity. 

Similarly to the North Carolina service trip, the Florida service trip also involved a great deal of hands-on work. Collaborating with A Rocha USA, an environmental conservation organization, the eight students and two leaders, Hayes and Dr. Tracy Dohn-Cummins worked on various marine-focused service projects. 

Hayes explained that students participated in a variety of activities during the trip, including picking up plastic along beaches, conducting multiple nurdle hunts, collecting mole crabs from local beaches to study the effects of microplastics on the food web and contributing to an ongoing research project aimed at understanding pipefish populations in the increasingly degraded Indian River Lagoon. 

He added, “The results from these projects contribute to a growing database on the impacts to these ecosystems, which the place-based, Christian conservation group A Rocha will use to help educate local communities on ways to care for their local beaches.” 

Through this work, students were able to see the connection between their scientific and conservation efforts and their Christian faith.

In addition to their environmental efforts, students also partnered with Lifepointe Ministries to organize donated clothing for unhoused individuals in a nearby community, expanding their service beyond conservation. 

Students provided support to both an outreach ministry and environmental initiatives, gaining a deeper understanding of marine life while learning how their Christian values can align with their passions for service and conservation.

When Leia Watson, a student involved in the service group, was asked what impact she hoped to make through the trip, she shared, “By sharing my experiences and the knowledge I gained, I hope to inspire others to take action and support organizations like A Rocha. I believe that even small actions can make a difference in protecting our oceans for future generations.”

For anyone who wishes to get involved with service through the University, contact the Center for Service Leadership.