Shorter College Students Use Spring Break for New Orleans Mission Trip March 2006

College spring breaks are a time to relax and get away from the demands of classes and assignments. Many students plan vacations to beaches far away or road trips across the country. However a group of Shorter College students used their spring break to serve the citizens of New Orleans.

Twenty-eight Shorter students, 2006 alumnus Jonathan Shaw and BCM campus minister, the Rev. David Roland, joined an additional 20 volunteers from West Rome Baptist Church and Berry College to participate in construction and worship opportunities in New Orleans from March 10 to 17. During this time they provided general framing, roofing and siding work, while also “mudding out” other homes still requiring clean up from Hurricane Katrina.

Shorter’s team worked with the Baptist Crossroads Project, jointly coordinated by First Baptist of New Orleans and Habitat for Humanity. They stayed in dorms at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary while they helped the communities continue to rebuild.

“It’s such a blessing that churches continue to provide funding and resources for disaster relief so that groups like us can do this work,” said the Rev. Roland. “We received a great deal of support that enabled us to bring more students and provide transportation, lodging, equipment and supplies.”

Shorter’s New Orleans mission team included:

Shelley Acuff, a freshman biology major from Loganville, Ga.
Jessica Albright, a senior psychology major from Kennesaw, Ga.
Parker Aziz, a freshman business administration major from Tunnel Hill, Ga.
Ashley Chastain, a freshman early childhood education major from Adairsville, Ga.
Cara Colvard, a freshman chemistry major from Florence, Ala.
Traci Davis, a senior Christian ministry major from Griffin, Ga.
Mary Elise Ducworth, a senior psychology major from Paris, Tenn.
Jacob Edfelt, a freshman from Marietta, Ga.
Maria Eschbach, a freshman biology major from Snellville, Ga.
Peter Faile, a senior international studies major from Dahlonega, Ga.
Peter Flemming, a freshman Christian ministry major from Loganville, Ga.
Corey Hansard, a sophomore biology major from Cedar Bluff, Ala.
Laura Hart, a junior religious studies major from Columbus, Ga.
Jessica Henry, a junior early childhood education major from Chickamauga, Ga.
Barbara Hornreich, a junior religion and philosophy major from Orlando, Fla.
Jonathan Howard, a senior history and political science major from Macon, Ga.
Sarah Iserman, a sophomore early childhood education major from Rossville, Ga.
Matt Jolley, a senior Christian ministry major from Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jeremy Kirby, a sophomore religion major from Calhoun, Ga.
Valhalla McGaughey, a sophomore psychology major from Flowery Branch, Ga.
Erin Miller, a junior communication leadership major from Rockmart, Ga.
Cassie Murdock, a junior English education major from Fort Payne, Ala.
Lindsay Ross, a senior art major from Albany, N.Y.
Emily Thomas, a sophomore French major from Douglasville, Ga.
Elisabeth Watts, a sophomore art major from Cartersville, Ga.
Renee York, a junior Christian ministry major from Cartersville, Ga.

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