As students are adjusting to life after spring break, some students spent their vacation giving back to the Wichita Falls community.

From March 11 to March 13 several students pursuing different careers, classifications and ethnicities participated in an alternative spring break program organized by  Coordinator of the Multicultural Services Shontesa Jones.

“Alternative Spring Break is under the Volunteer MSU umbrella,” Jones said. “We understood that there are some students that were still here on campus for spring break and we wanted to let them know that they still can interact, do something positive for the community and still have fun.  Alternative spring break gave them a chance to get off campus and have fun and still do positive things for the community.”

Day 1: YMCA, March 11

Service-minded students made their way to the eastern side of Wichita Falls to mentor children and play games at the YMCA. Students played volleyball and basketball with the kids then offered them positive advice.

A major component of the students visit to the YMCA center was to inform them of the history of YMCA and its importance to the community.  Students toured the neighbourhoods near the YMCA and learned about changes and progress made to the eastside.

“I wanted them to get the history of Wichita Falls from the eastside where a majority of minorities stay,” Jones said. “I wanted them to go over there and learn about that history and also see and notice that there is not a lot of businesses over there and that it is sort of shut off in a way from the rest of Wichita falls. I wanted the students to know that all of Wichita Falls does not look like what is surrounding MSU and it is where they can go and volunteer in the future.”

Tiffiney Lake, a junior in biology, called her experience eye opening.

“I have not seen this part of Wichita Falls and it is just a different view from what we rellay see around MSU,” Lake said.

Day 2: Faith Mission, March 12

By visiting a Christ-centered program that focuses on leading a hand to the homeless, Jones said she selected students volunteer at Faith Mission to have them experience  being of service to persons in need.

“I wanted to teach them that although one might be homeless they are still like everyone else,” Jones said.  “They should know how to treat someone, listen and observe there various struggles and be helpful.  It is a good experience to be a server to somebody who is not usually getting served.  It makes them feel important and it makes the student feel like they are giving to somebody.”

Donnicia James, a senior in chemistry and biology, said her experience at Faith Mission was positive and gave her firsthand insight of the other side of Wichita Falls.

“It has been a good experience,” James said. “I got a chance to give back to the community that I have been living in for the past three years.  It is good to see another side of where I actually live and get out and do something constructive rather than just lazing around for the entire spring break”

Day 3: Sikes Lake Cleanup, March 13

On the final day of the alternative spring break program, students collected eight bags of trash while cleaning Sikes Lake.

“The clean up activity is just getting up out your room and going to see the lake that we have behind our facility.  And, also learn how the environment is important and how people take the environment for granted,” Jones said.

Tanaka Madyara, a junior in music, said his experience at the Sikes Lake clean up made him aware of the amount of litter near the lake.

“It went pretty well,” Madyara said.  “While picking up the trash you never really realize that there is that much litter around the lake, but it is always nice to help out and make sure that the place is conserved and clean.”

Once the cleaning activities ended, volunteers gathered in the Shawnee Theatre where they were treated to food and drinks.  Volunteers who participated in all three events received a certificate for their hard work and dedication to the program.

Chadrick Desir, a junior in geology, said he enjoyed volunteering at all three events and is looking forward to participating again next year.

“It was a very enhancing experience. I really loved going around Wichita Falls,” Desir said. “I got an opportunity to help the community a little bit and I look forward to doing this again next year.”