Zachary Ahrens of Carroll Participated in Spring Break Service Trip to Atlanta

2015 May 6

Ten Buena Vista University (BVU) students participated in an AWOL (Alternative Week of Off-site Learning) trip during spring break, enabling them to volunteer their time and service with a focus on inner-city poverty outreach in Atlanta, Georgia.

BVU students concerned with helping fight the war on poverty traveled to Atlanta where they worked on sustainable projects aimed at eradicating poverty in the inner-city. They helped package healthy meals to be delivered to individuals with health issues and special dietary needs and repackaged medical supplies that will be sent to countries around the world. Participants also learned about the history of the poverty in the Atlanta area and the work of prominent figures to promote civil equity.

Zachary Ahrens from Carroll participated in the trip. Ahrens is a senior exercise science-human performance major at BVU.

Advisors for the experience were Miranda Pollock, assistant professor of graphic design, and Lori Berglund, assistant director of career and personal development at BVU.

"Through our service with various organizations in the Atlanta area, some of the students realized there is a broad range of career opportunities they had not previously considered for their particular major," said Berglund. "The strong educational foundations students build in the classroom are connected to future careers through hands-on service work focused on the importance of sustainability and our role as citizens of a global community."

Zach Ahrens, a senior exercise science-human performance major from Carroll and student site leader, said, "Our immersion allowed us to gain valuable insight on root causes and the organizations addressing them. Overall, we were inspired to take action in whatever capacity possible in order to make the world a better place."

Natalie Bellairs, a senior biology major from Osage, was also a site leader on the trip.

AWOL has sent more than 641 volunteers and completed an estimated 27,916 hours of service worldwide, furthering its mission to immerse students in different cultures, heighten social awareness and advocate life-long social action through service on a local, regional and international level.

Four AWOL trips took place this year, with 40 BVU students participating. The other trips focused on animal advocacy in Kanab, Utah; disaster relief and clean up in New Orleans, Louisiana; and grassroots sustainability and economic development in Nicaragua. Information about the additional AWOL trips can be found on BVU's website at www.bvu.edu/news.