Local Students Take Alternative Spring Break

Alternative Spring Break trips are popular at many colleges. Students spend their vacations working in the US or in other countries, donating time to charitable organizations.  

Two local alumni did just that on their Spring Break recently. 

Joseph Ferrara, Providence College

Joseph Ferrara, a resident of Spring City, PA and a member of the class of 2014 at Providence College, recently spent a week working with Habitat for Humanity as part of the College's Alternative Spring Break 2013 program.

Ferrara was among more than 230 Providence College students who volunteered to spend their spring break working at Habitat home sites in 16 locations in the United States. They participated through the Habitat campus chapter at Providence College, which is sponsored by the chaplain's office. Ferrara worked on a home project in Buffalo, NY.

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter and other volunteers who work through more than 1,900 affiliates worldwide.

Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars. The Catholic, liberal arts college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,900 students and offers degrees in 49 academic majors. Since 1997, Providence College has consistently been ranked among the five regional universities in the north according to U.S. News' America's Best Colleges.

Sarah Fillman, Wilkes University

More than 60 Wilkes University students, faculty and staff particpated in the annual Alternative Spring Break from March 2-9. Students participating in the program spend their spring break performing community service to help people in this country and around the world. Destinations for Wilkes' 2013 Alternative Spring Break were Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Missouri, and New Orleans.

Sarah Fillman of Limerick, Pa., volunteered in New Orleans, La. Fillman is a sophomore at Wilkes and is majoring in pharmacy. She is the daughter of David and Virginia Fillman.