Wartburg College ranks number one in engaging students in service among Iowa colleges and universities based on the percentage of students involved in 2007 service trips. Twelve percent of Wartburg students participated last year. The college ranks number three among 126 chapters of Break Away, the national alternative Spring Break organization.

“Wartburg does a good job of placing value on service. Students value service, which is tied to our roots. I see that more in the Lutheran tradition. We have an amazing student body,” Renee Sedlacek, community service associate, said.

Sedlacek said she hopes students transform their minds and think about what their role is in the world and how their strengths and passions can meet the needs of others.

“Lots of students come back yearning to go back to their service trip and recognizing you don’t have to go far away to serve. There are needs in Waverly and the Cedar Valley,” Sedlacek said. “The experience that they have in service is something that they can bring back home.”

Sarah Abele travelled to East St. Louis with 16 people and worked in a thrift store, soup kitchen and homeless shelter. Abele said her favorite part was working with children in the after-school programs.

“I wanted to work more with people. I want to be a teacher and I think it’s important to understand poverty. Just because I know the background my kids come from, it’ll help me teach better. The more I know about my students, the better teacher I can be,” she said.

Abele and her group worked with Catholic Urban Programs and made 300 Easter baskets for children and 40 meals a night for homeless people.

Service trips a popular activity
More than 150 students with 16 advisers including three faculty, 11 staff, two alumni and a community member travelled to 10 states for 12 service trips during Winter Break.

The service trips are funded by the Student Senate with a $11,000 Lily Grant with $70 per student participant, $3,500 from students giving up meals, $100 participation fee and the rest through fundraising. Pop cans from bins across campus are redeemed for the service trip fund as well.

Students interested in service trips during Tour Week can sign up on the door of Center for Community Engagement April 18 and 19. The trips include New Orleans, Wartburg West in Denver and a Habitat for Humanity trip, which has a secret location.