While most college students opt for fun in the sun over spring break, 45 Cleveland State University students and faculty are traveling to New Orleans to give back to those in need. On Sunday, March 15, the students will travel to New Orleans, Louisiana to help rebuild homes destroyed four years ago in the St. Bernard Parish by Hurricane Katrina. The group will depart at 1:00 p.m. from Fenn Tower, 1983 East 24th Street.

The students, which comprise CSU’s Viking Expeditions service organization, will spend a week at Habitat for Humanity’s Camp Hope and work with hundreds of other college student volunteers from across the country. The group raised over $15,000 through fund-raisers and personal donations to fund the trip.

Viking Expeditions, under the leadership of student president Heidi Vielhaber, formed in May 2007 after their initial service trip to New Orleans. Since then, the group has successfully volunteered in Louisiana during spring break of 2008, in Franklin, West Virginia during winter break this past year, and are now returning to the Gulf Coast for a third time. The students also volunteered locally in the Cleveland community during this past Thanksgiving break.

A student-led initiative, Viking Expeditions provides CSU students with opportunities to expand their world view through leadership and service. Lifelong friendship and a commitment to service guide their larger goal of serving the needs of the global community. Their community engagement fosters student learning and provides service learning experiences that foster global citizenship.

To travel with Viking Expeditions, via their online blog, visit http://vikingexpeditions.blogspot.com.

For more information, please contact Sandra Emerick at 216.687.2048 or s.emerick@csuohio.edu.

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