Coastal students celebrate Spring Break in different ways
by Rohr
Spring Break isn't always a break for students, faculty and staff at Coastal Carolina University. Many choose to spend their spring breaks traveling to see the world, to study abroad, to continue research, or to help those in need.
Here is a snapshot of what several different groups across campus did during Spring Break 2018.
Dyer Fellows in D.C.
The Edgar Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy took its five Dyer Fellows to Washington, D.C., during Spring Break, and it was a huge success, according to center director Jacqueline Kurlowski.
The fellows travel to D.C. every year to explore centers of policy formation and implementation, and were able to visit Rep. Tom Rice’s office in the U.S. Capitol Building, the Gallup Polling Agency and the White House.
Students were also able to have one-on-one meetings with the U.S. Post Office, Oceana, Street Smart, the Pretrial Services Agency, and the FBI during the trip. Each of these meetings coincided with the students’ areas of policy study as a Dyer Fellow, according to faculty adviser Jacqueline Kurlowski. The students will present their research at a symposium later this month.
The Dyer Fellows are Nicholas Smith, Emily Taylor, Alexandria Putman, Allie Sheets and John Quinn.
Putnam is studying political science and communication, and her research topic is the inefficiencies and shortfalls of the U.S. Postal Service.
Quinn is studying political science and marine science, and his research topic is sea level rise in Georgetown.
Sheets is studying political science, and her research topic is the cash bail system.
Smith is studying intelligence and national security, and his research topic is privacy rights in the digital age.
Taylor is studying public health, and her research topic is pedestrian safety specifically on college campuses.
The Dyer Fellows also atteneded the National Symphony Orchestra's performance Verdi’s Requiem at the Kennedy Center during their trip.
Alternative breakers in North Carolina
A team of five students traveled with Amelia Carte, coordinator for Civic Engagement, to Asheville, N.C., for an Alternative Spring Break Trip to volunteer at four different locations throughout the week.
Alternative spring breaks are weeklong trips where students engage in direct service focused on a social justice issue, according to Civic Engagement.
The students were: Michelle Andrus, Jordan Bullock, Desiree Calhoun, Jeremy Pekoff and Billie Rogers.
Monday, March 5, at the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) Crisis Center, the students unloaded and organized a large food delivery, organized the warehouse, assisted with food orders, and sorted clothing.
On Tuesday, March 6, the Alternative Breakers worked with Asheville GreenWorks, a nonprofit environmental organization. The students volunteered with one of their urban forestry projects, moving and replanting hundreds of trees.
Wednesday, March 7, took them to the Veterans Restoration Quarters. The VRQ provides veterans experiencing homelessness with a support system to help them to get back on their feet. The tasks for the CCU team included preparing and serving lunch, as well as cleaning common areas. The group also had a chance to talk with some of the veterans.
On Thursday, March 8, after waking up to some surprise snow, the CCU students worked with the Black Mountain Home for Children, painting a cottage on the grounds. After the service project, the students participated in some team-building challenges with the help of YMCA partners.
On Friday, March 9, the last day in Asheville, the students revisited the Veterans Restoration Quarters to paint a new meeting room top to bottom.
Solar Ambassadors in Colorado
CCU’s team of Solar Ambassadors went all the way to Denver, Colo., during Spring Break to enhance their knowledge about solar energy and get some hands-on experience working on solar installations.
They started by taking some basic training with GRID Alternatives before heading to the installation site.
