Ah, Spring Break, the time when students enjoy a week off from studying, head to the beach, sleep late and relax. But for a group of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students, the break offered something different: the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and learn firsthand about volunteering and the impact it can make on a community.
“Alternative Spring Break is more than service,” said JP Peters, assistant director of student outreach and service at GGC. “It’s an opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zones, connect with communities and return with a deeper understanding of the world around them.”
This year, more than 70 GGC students participated in Alternative Spring Break.
For Yamil Castillo, a sophomore majoring in accounting and a Georgia native, the week meant volunteering with fellow students in and around Lawrenceville. One of their stops was Just People Inc. in Norcross, which offers programs for adults with developmental disabilities, mental illness and head injuries.
“This is my second year volunteering, and I really enjoyed it,” Castillo said. “They have villages where residents have the chance to live together and build independence. It’s kind of like a college experience.”
Dr. Tonya Millsap, known simply as Dr. Tonya to residents, joined the organization five years ago after retiring from teaching.
“I’m a developmental disability professional, so I wear many hats here, and I’m in charge of the continuing education program,” she said. “I like seeing college students get more comfortable and warm up to the special needs community.”
Kayanna Johnson, a Bahamas native and GGC sophomore majoring in environmental science, said she learned about the opportunity in an anthropology class taught by Dr. MaryBeth Chrostowsky, senior lecturer of anthropology.
“We were doing kinship charts, and Dr. Chrostowsky mentioned Alternative Spring Break,” Johnson said. “I followed up with her in January and signed up. I wanted to find different places where I could volunteer and give back to my community, because it’s something I’m passionate about.”
During the week, students also volunteered at the Rowen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Downtown Lawrenceville and explored Treetop Quest Gwinnett.
In addition to the Lawrenceville projects, other groups of GGC students and faculty volunteered with organizations in Asheville, North Carolina; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Clarkston, Georgia; Mobile, Alabama; Richmond, Virginia; and Walland, Tennessee.
Photo caption: Andreas Forbes assists with the removal of non-native tree species along the trail at Collins Hill Park to support local environmental conservation efforts while participating in the Alternative Spring Break service initiative. Photo by Daniel Melograna/GGC
View and download alternative spring break gallery photos and video.