STORM LAKE, IA (04/05/2017)-- Kathia Puls, a sophomore psychology major from Geneseo, and ten other Buena Vista University participants took part in an AWOL (Alternative Week of Off-site Learning) trip during spring break, enabling them to volunteer their time and service with a focus on sustainable social and economic development in Los Fierros, Nicaragua.
The BVU participants worked with the Panorama Service Expedition, an organization that promotes sustainable social and economic development projects. Throughout the week, the participants immersed themselves in the area's culture and worked on a farm alongside locals helping prepare grounds for planting coffee trees.
Advisors for this experience were Ken Meissner, director of spiritual life at BVU, and Mike Walker, university counselor for BVU's Office of Student Affairs.
AWOL has sent more than 729 volunteers and completed an estimated 33,756 hours of service worldwide, furthering its mission to immerse students in different cultures, heighten social awareness and advocate life-long social action through service on a local, regional and international level.
To ensure the AWOL program's long-term impact on the student and the Storm Lake community, students research their service areas, identify a local need, serve to understand it better and address it using new skills learned on their AWOL trips and engaging in local service projects.
Four AWOL trips took place this year, with 40 BVU students, faculty and staff participating. The other trips focused on treating injured animals in Hubert, N.C.; tackling poverty and serving youth in Eagle Butte, S.D.; and social, economic, environmental and racial justice issues in New Orleans.
About Buena Vista University
Since 1891, Buena Vista University has prepared students for lifelong success and blends liberal arts with real-world applications. Our traditional campus on the shores of Storm Lake hosts students in a variety of majors and pre-professional programs, including elementary, secondary, and special education; business and accounting; and biological and chemical sciences. Our 16 degree-completion locations, online, and graduate programs expand student potential with a pace and academic rigor designed for working adults and a variety of class formats that make scheduling even more convenient. With an average scholarship of more than 50 percent off of tuition, BVU is an affordable option for all students. Visit www.bvu.edu.
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