72 students leaving on mission trips
WAYNESBURG – Waynesburg University faculty and staff will lead 72 students to serve others both domestically and abroad during the week of spring break. The university will offer four service mission trips covering a variety of academic and professional interests that give students the opportunity to serve outside Greene County.
The projects include partnerships with The Pittsburgh Project in Pittsburgh; Summit Adventure in Quito, Ecuador; Habitat for Humanity in Concord, N.C.; and Meeting God in Missions in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic.
A team of 28 students will serve with the Pittsburgh Project March 9 through March 15. Students will be led by Kent James, lecturer of history at Waynesburg University and Christopher Kellner, university resident director.
The Pittsburgh Project is a nonprofit community development organization located on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Students will partner with the Pittsburgh Project to serve some of the city’s most vulnerable residents by providing free home repairs and by building strong, faith-centered relationships.
In many cases, the building improvements save the homeowner from possible citation or eviction. Projects include hanging drywall, constructing wheelchair ramps and replacing doors, floors and windows.
Students participating in The Pittsburgh Project mission trip include: Victoria Berggren, a freshman from Lower Burrell; Kimber Blair, a junior from New Castle; Caley Blankenbuehler, a freshman from West Newton; Eric Burnett, a freshman from Carmichaels; Nermeen Bushra, a freshman from Harrisburg; James Glisan, a freshman from West Newton; Brandon Glowark, a freshman from McDonald; Bret Hoffman, a sophomore from Washington; Matthew Kabay, a junior from Waynesburg; Victoria Kapp, a sophomore from Shippenville; Shakila Kienholz, a freshman from Erie; Jessie Kiner, a freshman from Millerstown; Rebecca Lane, a sophomore from Ellwood City; Jerry Lawman, a freshman from Poland, Ohio; John Lydic, a freshman from Verona; Derrion May, a freshman from Fairview Heights, Ill.; Nicholas Merlino, a freshman from Pittsburgh; and Zachary Morgan, a freshman from Greencastle.
Also, Timothy Neral, a freshman from Pittsburgh; DeRon Scott, a freshman from San Diego, Calif.; Gracious Shavers, a sophomore from Japan; Rebecca Shindelar, a freshman from Bemidji, Minn.; Katharine Shultz, a sophomore from Venetia; Pedro Torrez, a freshman from Raleigh, N.C.; Angela Wadding, a junior from Dayton; Victoria Whitty, a freshman from New Wilmington; Casey Wiltshire, a freshman from Adena, Ohio; and Dominic Zappa, a junior from Monroeville.
From March 9 to March 16, a team of nine students will travel to Quito, Ecuador, to partner with Summit Adventure, a Christ-centered outdoor adventure, service and experiential education ministry. Janet Paladino and Chad Sethman, assistant professors of biology, will lead the students.
The trip is intended to help students understand the importance of caring for God’s creation. They will work with Summit Adventure to build an ethos of ‘creation care’ to address the environmental issues of both the natural and urban habitats of Ecuador, as well as human and environmental health issues.
“My hope for the students attending this trip is that they will see how the government handles environmental issues in a way that is foreign to us in the United States,” Paladino said
Students participating in this trip include: Cory Davis, a junior from Linesville; Kelsey Geehring, a senior from Dawson; Loni Gibson, a junior from Scenery Hill; Colin Nelson, a sophomore from State College; Nathan Ribar, a freshman from Waynesburg; Jonathan Sendecki, a junior from Gap; Jessica Shaffer, a senior from Mount Pleasant; Louis Weber, a freshman from West Mifflin; and Jeff Johns, from Upper Burrell.
A team of 20 students will travel to Concord, N.C., to assist the Cabarrus County, N.C., Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Students will leave March 10 and return March 15. The trip will be led by Pat Bristor, associate dean of students and director of student services and Dr. Chad Sherman, instructor of communication.
The students will assist with building homes to address substandard housing issues in North Carolina.
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 500,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes.
Students participating in this mission trip include: Juan Angel, a from Caracas; Jennifer Brown, a freshman from Latrobe; Northe Campbell-Escalante, a junior from Pittsburgh; Joshuah Dains, a sophomore from Clarksville; Dana Della Loggia, a junior from Hershey; Samantha Ervin, a junior from Irwin; Quincy Hathaway, a sophomore from Jefferson; Cody Hillberry, a sophomore from Sycamore; Amanda Immel, a sophomore from Sellersville.
Also, Erin Kern, a sophomore from Friedens; Sarah Kirk, a freshman from Pittsburgh; James Law, a sophomore from Erie; Kaitlyn Marteney, a sophomore from Berlin; Brittney Nard, a senior from Pittsburgh; Gregory Reinhart, a senior from North Royalton, Ohio; Corey Rugh, a from Smithfield; Rachel Snavely, a freshman from Manheim; Brianna Watt, a sophomore from Waynesburg; Melissa Yoder, a junior from Hollsopple; and Dylan Zeigler, a sophomore from Knox.
A team of 15 students will travel to Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic, March 9-16. Dave Calvario, dean of students and the director of the Center for Service Leadership at Waynesburg University, will lead the students.
Students will serve with “Meeting God in Missions,” and will visit Haitian villages where many Dominicans of Haitian descent face challenges. Service will consist of construction and home repairs, leading bible studies, prayer walks, playing sports in the villages and spending time with children in the villages. This is the first time the university is partnering with Meeting God in Missions.
Students participating in themission trip include: Nika Anschuetz, a freshman from Harmony; Olivia Bakke, a senior from Monaca; Cassy Dowler, a junior from Latrobe; Andrew Juntunen, a senior from Shingle Springs, Calif.; Kristen McClure, a freshman from Reading; Erin Pierson, a junior from Bethel Park; Rebecca Rosser, a freshman from Sweet Valley; Shonah Russell, a sophomore from Sabattus, Maine; K Scarry, a junior psychology major from Herndon, Va.
Also, Mary Spencer, a sophomore from Allison Park; Bonnie Strang, a freshman from McMurray; Hannah Szymanik, a junior from Mount Holly Springs; Shawn Wharrey, a senior from Mars; Olivia Workman, a sophomore from Lovettsville, Va.; and Warner Workman, a junior from Lovettsville, Va.