Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- For several Kansas State University students, spring break is for taking the time to do good for others.

More than 30 students are participating in the university's alternative spring break program March 18-22. Coordinated by students in the School of Leadership Studies, participants volunteer for service learning projects across the U.S.

"The program places students into the lives of individuals in various diverse communities throughout the United States and helps them gain more of an understanding of what life in that environment would be like," said Kayla Day, alternative break student coordinator and senior in marketing from Overland Park.

Alternative spring break locations include: Roseland/Pullman Boys and Girls Club in Chicago; Teach for America in Denver, a teacher placement program in low-income communities where university students will help tutor; No More Victims in Houston, an advocacy agency for children of incarcerated parents; and St. Jude Children's Hospital and St. Mary's Soup Kitchen in Memphis, Tenn.

"It is our hope that K-State students actively engage in these service learning projects to gain insight into social issues," Day said. "This affects the community by providing service with a greater understanding of the social issue."

Kansas State University students participating in the alternative spring break program and project location include:

Kayla Knoll, senior in social work from Baldwin City, Denver; Jodi Roberts, junior in milling science and management from Burlingame, Memphis; December Lange, senior in psychology from Conway Springs, co-site leader for Chicago; Ashley Leckliter, senior in family studies and human services from El Dorado, co-site leader for Memphis; Shandell Gallardo, junior in mass communications from Garden City, Chicago.

From Greater Kansas City: Ismael "Izzy" Hernandez, sophomore in construction science and management, Chicago, and Ja'Lynne Montgomery, sophomore in elementary education, Houston, both from Kansas City, Kan.; Caroline "Cari" Olberding, sophomore in family studies and human services from Leawood, Denver; Shai Washington, freshman in political science from Lenexa, Chicago; Nicole White, senior in elementary education from Merriam, Memphis; Kaitlyn Goddard, sophomore in business administration, Chicago, and Rebecca Renteria, freshman in secondary education, Memphis, both from Olathe; Jeanette LaFreniere, senior in biology and premedicine from Overland Park, co-site leader for Memphis; and Andrew Waldman, senior in industrial engineering from Shawnee, co-site leader for Denver.

Shelby Nelson, junior in kinesiology, Houston, and James Arpin, junior in biology, Memphis, both from Hutchinson; Zachary Jones, sophomore in biological systems engineering from Junction City, Memphis; Sonjay Baker, freshman in mechanical engineering, Denver, and Michelle Foster, senior in American ethnic studies, Chicago, both from Lansing; Bethany Roy, junior in family studies and human services from Norton, co-site leader for Denver; Stevie St. Clair, junior in family studies and human services from Portis, site leader for Houston; Jared Robl, senior in kinesiology from Salina, Memphis; Jonathan Bernard, sophomore in biology from South Hutchinson, Memphis; Hayley Jenkins, junior in life sciences, Memphis, and Grace Works, sophomore in sociology, co-site leader for Chicago, both from Topeka; Taylor Winter, junior in public health nutrition from Wamego, Houston.

From Wichita: Nathan Pfeifer, junior in nutritional sciences, Memphis; Kristen Doberer, freshman in elementary education, Denver; and Kelsey Prather, junior in family studies and human services, Denver.

From out of state: Kayla Jurrens, junior in kinesiology from Highlands Ranch, Colo., Chicago; Joseph Miguel Valdes, junior in mechanical engineering from Liberty, Mo., Chicago; and Jared Kuehnlein, senior in general business administration from St. Louis, Mich., Chicago.

From out of country: Ursula Kamanga, junior in family studies and human services from South Africa, Houston.