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January 20, 2013

Other ways to spend the break

By Jed Dembowski The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — When I was in college, I never really did anything for Spring Break. I just went home. Since the NCAA basketball tournament was on, that meant I watched a lot of basketball.

College students have a lot of options when it comes to Spring Break. There’s skiing or the beach or the couch at your parent’s house. For many students there is another option: making a difference.

Every year, hundreds of young adults and student volunteers from across the United States trade in swimming trunks for tool belts. They team up with United Way to make a meaningful impact in communities across the country.

This year there are opportunities across the county, including a special partnership with MTV.

SPRING FIX

United Way has teamed up with MTV to host Spring Fix. The 50 students selected for the event will spend a week helping rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

Spring Fix kicks off on Sunday, March 17 and culminates on Saturday, March 23 with a special free concert at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. The deadline to apply is Jan. 28. Travel and accommodations will be covered for the 50 students selected.

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK

Alternative Spring Break is an annual event allowing college students the opportunity to spend their Spring Break volunteering. Locations are Biloxi, Miss.; Tucson, Ariz.; El Paso, Texas and Newark, N.J.

Projects include rebuilding houses and tutoring children. These service opportunities cost from $150 to $350, depending on the location. Attendees are also responsible for providing transportation to their location.

For more information about Spring Fix or Alternative Spring Break, visit the United Way of Norman website at www.-unitedwaynorman.org/asb.

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