Fall 2002
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Fall 2002 |
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By grasping hammers, blowing whistles or designing computer programs, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students are providing invaluable assistance to a growing list of organizations through a popular community service program. At the same time, students, faculty and staff members have applied their engineering and problem-solving skills this school year to construct a unique Habitat for Humanity house. Once completed, the house will be moved into town. "The support for these community programs is a reflection of the type of students we have at Rose-Hulman. They care about each other and the local community," said Associate Dean of Students Tom Miller, who administers the Community Outreach Program. In its fourth year, the program has become a model for other colleges and exceeds mandates that college students assist at agencies as part of the federally supported work-study assistance program. However, Miller quickly points out that the 100 students participating in the program don’t consider their experiences as "work." "In most cases, it is a lifetime experience that helps the students appreciate what they have and makes Terre Haute a better place," he said. Students and agency directors heartily agree. "Giving is receiving," states Cort Severns, a junior computer engineering major who helped reorganize computerized accounting system for the Terre Haute YMCA. "It instills the spirit of giving, even if we receive nothing in return," said Eric Blankenship, a sophomore mechanical engineering major who earned the Heart of Relay Award for helping organize local college students for last year’s American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, which raised over $70,000 for cancer research and patient support programs. "The biggest thing I have come away (from working with ACS) is the impact just a few people can make on someone's life. I had always heard that one person could make a difference. I have seen it happen several times in this position. What's more important is how much difference an entire community can make," Blankenship said. Briar Colwell, a senior chemical engineering major who is a member of the college’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, states, "Rose-Hulman students have been blessed with wonderful God-given abilities and should use those abilities to help as many people as possible. I believe that is why many of us wanted to become engineers." The YMCA is utilizing 17 students this fall to assist in a variety of projects: designing a new lighting system for the agency’s old downtown facility; registering members at the front desk; coaching youth basketball leagues; mathematics tutoring; and providing extra hands in the day care center. "It’s great to see the Rose-Hulman students on the floor, with smiles on their faces, playing with the youths," said Becky Garvin, the YMCA’s executive director. "The students like to come here and escape from the rigors of school. It brings a sense of stability to their lives." From his perspective, Severns states, "I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the friendly smiles and satisfaction of knowing I am helping others in their goals." Students in the Community Outreach Program also provide assistance to the Ryves Hall Youth Center, Wabash Valley Family Sports Center, American Red Cross, 14th and Chestnut Community Center, local Girl and Boy Scout councils, Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, Wabash Valley Community Foundation, Arts Illiana, Northside Community United Methodist Church, St. Joseph’s University Parish, Rose-Hulman’s Homework Hotline telephone tutoring program and Terre Haute North High School’s Literature Magazine Club. "We couldn’t accomplish most of the things that get done in our office without our Rose-Hulman students," admits Teresa Shaffer, the American Cancer Society’s Wabash Valley community development director. The agency has only three fulltime staff members for its six county service area. "Many of the (10) students that work with us have been affected, in some way, by cancer through losing a family member, neighbor or friend. They see their work as a ‘calling’ and a way to help others." Blankenship assesses his relationships with ACS staff and cancer patients as "we consider each other to be best friends. We have experienced a lot with each other and supported each other through tough times." Bryan Tanner, a freshman civil engineering major, was a volunteer for his hometown ACS chapter. In Terre Haute, he is currently recruiting high-school teams for next spring’s Relay For Life. Meanwhile, sophomore computer engineering student Shane Frederick is helping ACS staff members place material orders for cancer patients and their families. Most students work approximately eight to 10 hours per week with their agencies, and add about two hours outside the office per week. The commitment of the campus community has also been seen this fall in the Habitat for Humanity house construction project, believed to be only the third Habitat house built on a college campus. Students living in residence halls have joined groups from fraternities and student organizations in working each Saturday since the beginning of the school year. The construction site for the 1,200 square foot, four-bedroom house is located in the southeast corner of campus, near the Big Foot gasoline station, along U.S. 40. When complete, it will be moved approximately three miles to a site in the 2400 block of Elm Street in Terre Haute by MCF Movers of Newburgh, Ind. It will become the home for Erin Crews Bluck, a single mother with four sons, 13 to 2 years old. "Every time Erin stops by, I see how much this means to her," states Sara Page Podolsky, a sophomore electrical engineering major and a member of Rose-Hulman’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. "She works so hard and really deserves it . . . It's interesting to see the house go up, piece by piece. I can actually ‘see’ the additions each week. The closest thing to a complaint that I have heard is that people wish they could work on the house more," she said. Colwell, vice president of the Habitat for Humanity student chapter, added: "Learning construction skills and techniques that I will be able to use later in life is one of the most exciting aspects of working on the Habitat for Humanity project. It is a great way to build an invaluable skill and help the community at the same time." Severns’ work at the YMCA helped pave the way for a summer internship related to his computer engineering interests at a local business. He has also expanded his communications skills, which will help him in his future career. "I have learned how to better communicate with people outside my community of engineers. One of the major challenges of technical work is the communication of that work," Severns said. Other ways that Rose-Hulman students help the community include hosting campus blood drives each quarter for the Indiana Blood Center (donating more than 1,000 pints each year), helping the local Trees Inc. organization plant trees to beautify Terre Haute neighborhoods, and assembling bicycles and tricycles for needy children each Christmas. "The caring attitude of Rose-Hulman students is tremendous," said American Literature Professor Caroline Carvill, director of Rose-Hulman’s service learning educational programs. For the past three years, groups of freshman composition students have researched and written essays about local service agencies. These efforts have been published in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star as a way to educate local residents about the agency’s needs. Meanwhile, Rose-Hulman’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers has constructed or designed several projects for organizations and local citizens, and mechanical engineering students have constructed devices to help disabled youths experience independent lifestyles.
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