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| Nov 2, 2009 |
Students from USD CAE assist with eastern Iowa flood relief |
| VERMILLION, S.D. -- Nine students from The University of South Dakota spent a weekend in Waterloo, Iowa, assisting the community that received flood damage over a year ago and is still struggling to recover. |
| Flood relief projects included sorting, organizing and removing water damaged belongings, tearing down wood paneling, sanitizing basements and painting interiors inside homes. At the conclusion of their work, the students had helped three families in their recovery from the floods.
Due to the large amount of damage, it took inspectors more than a year to assess people’s homes. “It changed my belief that flood relief can come quick,” said Justin Achua, a USD student from Sioux Falls, S.D. “One family had to wait over a year to start cleaning up.” “People need to realize there is still a need in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area,” added trip leader Donielle Gustafson, AmeriCorps VISTA in the Center for Academic Engagement at USD. “It takes years for a community to rebuild and there are still families living in unhealthy conditions.” Students participating in the trip included: Achua, Danielle Sieck of Selby, S.D., Stephen Baunach of Trumbull, Conn., Alex Brummer of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Debbra Haworth of Scotland, S.D., Justin Kloster and Ashley Schelling of Brandon, S.D., and Ainsley Askew Amanda Hettinger of Pierre, S.D. About The Center for Academic Engagement The U’s Center for Academic Engagement was created as a central point of contact for students to find experiential learning information, including information about service-learning, undergraduate research, study abroad and off-campus academic experiences. The office is also a place where faculty can receive support for integrating service-learning and other experiential activities into their courses. Finally, the Office acts as a general volunteer clearinghouse for Vermillion and the surrounding area. The CAE is supported by the University and a grant from Learn and Serve America through the Midwest Consortium for Service-Learning in Higher Education and the Corporation for National & Community Service. For information on upcoming events, e-mail the CAE at engage@usd.edu or visit www.usd.edu/engage. |
| About The University of South Dakota |
| Founded in 1862, The University of South Dakota is designated as the only public liberal arts university in the state and is home to a comprehensive College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Health Sciences, the state's only School of Law, School of Medicine, the accredited Beacom School of Business and the College of Fine Arts. It has an enrollment of more than 9,600 students taught by 400 faculty members. More information is available at www.usd.edu/press/news.
This material is available in an alternate format upon request. Please contact University Relations at 605-677-5759. If you are a person with a disability and need a special accommodation to fully participate in any university activity or event, please contact Disability Services at 605-677-6389 as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements may be made. |
MEDIA CONTACTS: |
| Phillip Carter |
| The University of South Dakota |
| 605-677-6258 |
| phillip.carter@usd.edu |
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