FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 02/09/2007

Bridgewater College Students To Spend Spring Break Working For Habitat For Humanity

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Forgoing the traditional trip to the beach to play in the sun, 17 Bridgewater College students will volunteer instead as construction workers for Habitat's Collegiate Challenge Spring Break 2007.

The 17 students, accompanied by the Rev. Robert Miller, campus chaplain, will leave for Independence, Mo., on Saturday, March 3, and return to campus on Sunday, March 11.

The group will work with the Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity affiliate laying floor and putting up the framework and roof trusses on a new home.

To raise money for the trip and awareness of homelessness, the group will sleep in boxes on the campus mall from 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 to 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. The students also cleaned car interiors in January and made over three thousand "Buckeyes" (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate) which they sold at the local Wal-Mart and at the College.

Jaclyn Young, a senior biology major from Stuarts Draft, Va., is making her third Habitat trip. Young enjoys each new adventure and seeing the projects come together. "When you first step foot on the site and all that is there is a concrete slab," says Young, "and then by the end of the week…you really have a sense of accomplishment. At that point and time," says Young, "you know that you were truly a part of something great and that you helped to change someone's life for the better."

The Bridgewater College Campus Chapter, established in 1995, is one of nearly 700 campus chapters worldwide. Organized by Bridgewater students, the group is affiliated with Central Valley Habitat for Humanity, located in Bridgewater, and helps provide shelter to the residents of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Now in its 31^st year, Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide. The organization works in partnership with people in need throughout the world, building simple, decent shelter that is sold to them at no profit, through no-interest loans.

This is the 15^th year that Bridgewater College students have used their spring break to work in various Habitat projects, including three trips to Miami, one to Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Johns Island, South Carolina and Austin, Texas.

Students participating this year from Bridgewater in addition to Young are:

Abed Abolaban, a freshman art major, from Damascus, Syria;

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Page 2...BC Students...02/09/2007

Jeffrey Adams, a junior business administration major and communication studies minor, from Virginia Beach, Va.;

Gretchen Armstrong, a sophomore liberal studies major, from Stephens City, Va.;

Lindsey K. Coppedge, a senior biology major, from Elkton, Va.;

Stacey L. DeHaven, a freshman business administration major, from Falling Waters, W.Va.;

Jen Greenholt, a junior English major with international studies and communication studies minors, from Yadkinville, N.C.;

Alexandra Haffer, a Brethren Colleges Abroad student majoring in English, from Friedensdorf, Germany;

Dano Heatwole, a junior biology and environmental science double major from Bridgewater, Va.;

Sarah Hoover, a sophomore business administration major, from Broadway, Va.;

Katy Laning, a freshman liberal studies major, from Midlothian, Va.;

Joshua O'Donnell, a junior English and philosophy and religion double major, from Royersford, Pa.;

Jessica Powers, a junior psychology major and communication studies minor, from Hagerstown, Md.;

Louis Sanchez, a freshman business administration major and psychology minor, from Harrisonburg, Va.;

Tara Summy, a junior philosophy and religion and communication studies double major, from Manheim, Pa.;

Yolanda J. Tillman, a junior Spanish major, from Summerville, S.C.; and

Beverly Walsh, a senior allied health science major from Staunton, Va.

Bridgewater College, a private, four-year liberal arts college, enrolls more than 1,500 students. Founded in 1880 and located in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, it was the state's first private, coeducational senior college.

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