Students provide more hurricane relief

The group of 38 students and two faculty members went to Chalmette, La., in the St. Bernard Parish to assist with efforts in the recovery of Hurricane Katrina of five years ago. After making the 27-hour bus trip to Chalmette, the contingent took orders from the National Relief Network. The group, which was led by science faculty members Ann Buchmann and Wendy Jamison, departed Chadron Saturday, March 6, and returned Saturday, March 13.

The “Alternative Spring Break” trip to the Gulf Coast, which has been offered each of the past three years, is designed to help students learn the value of providing service. Those involved with the project say it accomplishes its goals.

“I think the highlight for myself and most involved was the opportunity to speak with the people in the area about their experiences,” Jamison said. “We found that everyone had a story, they were all unique, and all very interesting and eye-opening. It was also amazing to see how much is still left for the recovery after five years.”

On the first day of the mission, the group ventured to alligator country for a wetlands restoration along a levee that had been breached by the hurricane. New trees were planted along the levee to provide wind protection and replace the previous stand that had been killed by exposure to salt water.

On the second day, one CSC group cleaned and organized a large shed for the Our Lady of Lourdes church of Violet, La., while another worked at one of the many residences devastated by the disaster.

The students’ work is vital in helping the church this year resume its annual carnival that was suspended after the hurricane. The residence, which was home to a National Guard soldier commissioned to earthquake-torn Haiti, was being prepared for renovation and re-habitation.

On day three, about a quarter of the students returned to the church to assist in carrying large construction up a ladder to the second floor and installing signage in the parking lot. The remaining students planted more trees and picked up trash along a swampy roadside where they spotted a deadly water moccasin.

Deena Kennell, CSC’s director of internships and career services, helped organize the expedition this year after joining students in the Gulf Coast the past two years. Kennell said student-led fund-raisers, a small amount of money from last year’s trip and a variety of other campus funding sources helped keep the cost for each student at $100.

Kennell said the students pumped fuel at a Chadron truck stop and sold advertising on t-shirts in order to raise funds.

“This year’s trip was very student driven and would not have happened if not for the commitement and dedication of several students,” Kennell said. “They spearheaded the connection with the National Relief Network and all the fund-raising and participant recruiting.”

Following is a list of the trip’s participants:

Nebraska

Alliance: Scott Langemeier, Katie Patrick, Bridget Scherbarth

Bayard: Kelsey Gregory

Beaver City: Jessie Sadd

Burwell: Alex Petersen

Butte: Douglas Liewer

Callaway: Dalton Nelsen

Central City: Brandy Ritz

Chadron: Jens Johnson, Regina Olson

Chambers: Valarie Hoffman

Fort Calhoun: Adam Neumann

Gering: Brad Havranek

Gordon: Torie Lindsey

Hemingford: Katrina Mundt

Hershey: Jamie Ransdell

Hyannis: James Safarik

Laurel: Ashley Maxon

Litchfield: Jessi Slocum

Minatare: Josh Garza, Lyndsei Salazar

Morrill: Amber Nightingale

Mullen: Lindsey Wilson

Oshkosh: Chloe Olson

Ravenna: Elizabeth Rice

Sidney: Alex Adden, Jennifer Mackay, Austin Smith

Whitman: Bobbi Jo Adams

Other States

Aurora, Colo.: Jovan Mays

Greeley, Colo.: Kelly Case

Littleton, Colo.: Kristi Lafferty

Alzada, Mont.: Jonni Dinstel

Pine Ridge, S.D.: CaSarah Pine

Rapid City, S.D.: Zach Reynolds

Whitewood, S.D.: Jason Gellett

Burns, Wyo.: Priscilla Bastian