Thirteen Waynesburg University students volunteered to contribute their precious spring break to go on a service trip in Concord, North Carolina to aid Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity accomplishes many projects to help those in poverty, but one of the projects they are most well-known for is building safe and affordable homes for those who cannot afford enough to buy such housing. Those who will receive the houses must contribute a certain number of hours of work into the project, but there is plenty of volunteer work that goes into each build.

The trip, which was led by Dr. Chad Sherman, assistant professor of communication, and Erin Kern, graduate assistant for Student Activities, took place March 4 through March 10.

This was the third time Tyler Turbett, junior mathematics major with art and economics minors, attended the trip. According to Turbett, students built on an already laid foundation to complete a house. They worked on raising walls, building the roof and putting in windows and doors for the building.

“I really recommend the trip,” said Turbett. “I think it’s one of the most well-rounded trips I’ve ever been on. I think it’s very affordable, especially with the scholarships and fundraisers that the Center for Service Leadership offers.”

Turbett said he wants to continue to get involved in ministry throughout his life, and the trip gave him experience to help him do that in the future.

“I would like to get into ministry sooner rather than later in my life,” said Turbett. “We had reflection time at the church that hosts us, Saint James Lutheran. So, I was a small group leader for one of the nights this year, so having that experience certainly does that and allows opportunities to grow.”

Melanie Byler, senior exercise science and athletic training major and Bonner Scholar, experienced the trip for the first time this year. Part of her reason for going was because of her roommate, who went last year. Byler said another factor that made her want to go was a scholarship she was awarded.

“I was awarded the Service Leader Scholarship, and that gave me $500 to donate to a charity or go on a service trip,” said Byler. “So, I used it to go on a service trip.”

Byler said the reason she chose Habitat for Humanity as the service trip to use the money toward was because it was in the U.S. and she was familiar with the organization already.

“I knew Habitat. I had worked with them previously in Greene County, and I knew their mission,” said Byler. “I knew they don’t do toxic charity, as some service sites would do, but they’re very intentional about training and assisting the people they are trying to help, so it’s not just giving out free goods, but its working with them and helping them.”

As an athletic training major planning to go into physical therapy grad school, Byler said the service labor helped her learn more about how she can use her major in everyday situations.

“There were a ton of opportunities for me working with my trip-mates and giving out massages and realigning hips when necessary,” said Byler, “So, there were a ton of opportunities to practice my knowledge on the human body and how to heal the human body.”

For Byler, the trip tied the community service work she does through the Bonner program to other parts of the world.

“It was just fun to see the service that happens in Greene County is not just centralized in Greene County, but there is a whole network of people you can impact,” said Byler, “So, to be able to go and give some relief to some of the workers, who are in North Carolina, on the Habitat site; it’s just a fantastic experience, and it showed that the effort is not just a bunch of Bonner Scholars at Greene County, but it’s a nationwide effort.”