July 2, 2025
Students take service on the road
Carrying on the Cardinal tradition of service, two groups of Saginaw Valley State University students participated in Alternative Breaks, a student-led, student-run program that offers opportunities for students to learn about an important social issue and then travel to another state or country to provide service relating to that particular issue. The students spent the week of May 11-19 at sites in Georgia and Massachusetts.
In Atlanta, Georgia, six students worked with Hands On Atlanta to support local organizations with activities such as cleaning up parks, preparing food boxes, sorting clothing donations, working at a plant nursery and helping with neighborhood beautification.
“Our main goal was to engage with local communities in meaningful ways and support organizations making a difference,” said Emily Northrup, an elementary education major from Freeland. “We aimed to learn from the people we served while contributing through hands-on service projects. One of our biggest successes was the strong bonds we formed both within our group and with community members.”
Northrup served as a site leader for the group, along with Kyndall Boyd, a nursing major from Saginaw. Other team members included:
• Charlotte Adrian, a criminal justice major from Midland
• Cole Kamendat, a social work major from Clyde, in St. Clair County
• Jess Inman, a fine arts major from Burt
• Laken Caverly, a pre-nursing major from Whittemore
Northrup said the experience was rewarding and eye-opening for everyone involved.
“Many of us reflected on how the trip challenged our perspectives and deepened our understanding of social issues,” she added. “Our favorite moments included connecting personally with community members and seeing the direct results of our work. The experience inspired me to continue volunteering and bring these lessons back to campus and my everyday life.”
In Leominster, Massachusetts, students partnered with Habitat for Humanity to address the ongoing housing inequality in marginalized communities. The participants assisted in building homes to provide local families have safe, affordable housing. Site leaders Issy Cole, a social work major from Cadillac, and Molly Ewald, a special education major from Vassar, worked alongside Zoey Mosher, a social work major from Adrian, and Jacie Schonert, an elementary education major from Tustin, near Cadillac.
For more information about the SVSU Alternative Breaks, visit https://svsu.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/alternative-breaks.