While some college students go to Florida for Spring Break to walk on boardwalks and relax at beaches, H&S students spent the week building Habitat for Humanity houses in an economically depressed area of West Palm Beach, FL. This Alternative Spring Break program, led by Josh Trester, a Miami senior, and Debra Stanley, Assistant Director in the Honors and Scholars Office, allowed students to experience first-hand the satisfaction of helping with the construction of homes for low income families.

The trip was transformative for many of the students. H&S sophomore Liz Vater commented, “By working at the Habitat site, I had the opportunity to see service-learning at its finest. Since the group had the opportunity to see different parts of the West Palm Beach area, I was able to see the sharp contrast in the quality of living between the upscale parts and the very poor part of West Palm Beach where we were building the Habitat homes.” In reflecting on his experience, Ryan Green, H&S first year, said, “It was great and rewarding to know that we had helped create a home that will hopefully still be standing 30 years from now and will be a place where families will create memories”.

For most students, this was their first construction experience. H&S first-year Joe Carlin commented that “Learning how to build a house is not a part of the Miami Plan; I’m glad I got the opportunity to try something new like this.” Trip participants had the opportunity to work with other Habitat volunteers such as Mary, an 82-year-old woman, who is on the work site nearly every day, and Roland, a “retired” builder, who directs the construction crews. Students worked from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day doing everything from framing walls and setting trusses to painting and landscape work, earning nicknames such as “Sledge,” “Greyhound,” and “Level.” Plans are already underway for ASB trips in Spring 2009.