26 Waynesburg University students prepare for mission trips
WAYNESBURG – As the semester draws to a close, 26 Waynesburg University students will travel to different states and countries to serve others before heading home for the summer. University faculty and staff will lead three mission service trips covering a variety of academic and professional interests.
The projects include partnerships with the John Perkins Foundation in Jackson, Miss., Urban Promise in Camden, N.J., and Barnabas Ministries in Sebis, Romania.
Chad Sherman, assistant professor of communication at Waynesburg University, will lead nine university students to Jackson, Miss., from May 10 to May 17, to partner with the John M. Perkins Foundation for a week of service at the Spencer Perkins Center.
The center’s mission is to train and equip a new generation of indigenous leaders who are driven by the love of God to pass on the torch of reconciliation, community and youth development in West Jackson.
The group will work on various building projects in one of the poorest cities in the United States. Students will study racial reconciliation and community development issues with Dr. John M. Perkins about an area that has a history of racial segregation and large scale poverty.
Students participating in the mission trip include Charles Cook, a sophomore from Cheswick; Joshuah Dains, a junior from Clarksville; Kristen Sniezek, a sophomore from Moon Township; Mary Hoffman, a sophomore from Butler; Rachel Wilson, a sophomore from Lower Burrell; Shonah Russell, a junior from Sabattus, Maine; SiReno Mattie, a senior from Rices Landing; Stephanie Tress, from McMurray; and Victoria Berggren, a sophomore from Lower Burrell.
Dave Calvario, director of the Center for Service Leadership, will lead eight university students to Camden, N.J., from May 10 to May 17 to serve with Urban Promise, a faith-based after school and summer camp program that aims to equip children and teens with skills for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and leadership.
“Urban Promise fits with the mission of Waynesburg University – faith learning and serving,” said Calvario. “An outcome from this trip is for us to see first-hand and learn about the challenges that are facing our urban centers throughout America as well as begin to understand the employment, housing, socioeconomic, educational system and challenges people face in the community.”
Service will consist of working with children in Urban Promise’s kindergarten through 12th grade school as well as its after school program. Waynesburg students will assist with homework, spiritual development, arts and crafts and athletic games. Remaining time will be spent on labor projects in Urban Promise’s school and other ministries. Students will learn about the city of Camden and the poverty and social justice issues that exist there.
Students participating in this mission trip include Makalah Beazell, a senior from Waynesburg; Kaitlyn Berkebile, a senior from Friedens; Morgan Brumbaugh, a senior from Williamsburg; Jamie Dolan from Washington; Jacob Fleegle, a junior from Jennerstown; Bret Hoffman, a junior from Washington; Zachary Morgan, a senior from Greencastle; and Katharine Shultz, a senior from Venetia.
Ezekiel Olagoke, assistant professor of sociology, and Victoria Kapp, junior psychology major, will lead eight university students to Sebis, Romania, from May 20 to June 3 to serve with Barnabas Ministries, a nonprofit ministry that helps meet the physical and spiritual needs of orphans, the elderly and poor families in Romania.
“I went to Romania the summer after my freshman year and fell in love with it,” said Kapp. “I want our team to fall in love with the people and the culture just as I did.
Service will include working with children in the community, reaching out to impoverished gypsy families and manual labor. Specific service will be dependent on interests of the group and needs of the ministry.
Students participating in this mission trip include Devin Coughlin, a junior from Belvidere, N.J; Dakota Dawson, a junior from Charleroi; Jessie Kiner, a sophomore from Millerstown; James Law, a junior from Erie; David O’Donoghue, a freshman from Waynesburg; Casey Riker, a from Gibsonia; Alex Sherman, a junior from New Milford, Conn.; and Jordan Smallwood, a sophomore from New Salem.