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International spring break: choose the alternative

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Antigua, Guatemala Photo credit: Erin Weidman

"Programs like this help bring awareness of how you as one person can cause an impact. It may be very small, but can affect change."

Mandy Driver '12

Posted Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:54 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University's Alternative Service Experience (ASE) Program immerses students in a service experience in local domestic and international communities during school breaks. Created and led by trained student peer leaders, ASE involves direct service to a community, purposeful reflection and relationship building with others.

"Programs like this help bring awareness of how you as one person can cause an impact. It may be very small, but can affect change."

Mandy Driver '12

For Spring Break 2013, seven international programs still have openings. Costs range from $1,400-$2,150, which includes airfare, housing, food and in-country transportation. Scheduled for March 9-16, these drug- and alcohol-free adventures provide students with an "alternative," giving them an opportunity to volunteer, as well as learn more about the world and themselves.

All international ASE programs are 1-credit hour international service-learning courses and require four pre-travel and one post-travel class, as well as in-country reflections and assignments.

"This was a great experience for me. Probably one of the best experiences I've had in my life. It was really liberating and rewarding to help a non-profit organization. I was also inspired to find something that really moves me enough to be passionate about it for the majority of my life. Oh and I got to drive a bulldozer. Where else would I be able to do that?"

an ASE survey respondent

According to a student survey, ASE experiences lead to enhanced:

  • personal motivation for service
  • ability to self-reflect and cooperate with others
  • self-confidence with international travel
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San Isidro, Costa Rica Photo credit: Sarah Bono

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Cuzco, Peru Photo credit: Sarah Tencer

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Pedro Plains, Jamaica Photo credit: Kelsey Miller

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Photo credit: Emily Feusse

"This was a great experience for me. Probably one of the best experiences I've had in my life. It was really liberating and rewarding to help a non-profit organization. I was also inspired to find something that really moves me enough to be passionate about it for the majority of my life. Oh and I got to drive a bulldozer. Where else would I be able to do that?"

an ASE survey respondent

The 2013 international Spring ASE programs are:

  • Punta Gorda, Belize - Work alongside an environmental group on an organic cocoa farm to monitor and promote biodiversity, and live in a community next to the Caribbean Sea. Trip cost - $2,150
  • Mastatal, Costa Rica - Learn about the importance of sustainable development and lifestyle and different aspects of Costa Rican culture. Trip cost - $1,400
  • La Represa, Dominican Republic - Learn about international health care practices at Hospital Infantil Robert Reid Cabral, visit the colonial city of Santo Domingo and enjoy beautiful Caribbean beaches. Trip cost - $1,765
  • Quito, Ecuador - Experience the Pinchincha Mountains and witness the beauty of Ecuadorian culture through a partnership with Summit Adventure. Participants will learn about the effects of poverty and international migration, and teach at a bilingual school. Trip cost - $2,150
  • El Quimal, Guatemala - Live in the Mayan village of El Quimal, and work with Service for Peace to promote social justice in this underrepresented community. Trip cost - $1,765
  • Granada, Nicaragua - Work with children at La Esperanza Granada to promote learning as well as work on a project to provide a reliable water source to the community. Trip cost - $1,400
  • Huánuco, Peru - Work with Hovde Foundation to support vulnerable children, explore the art, history and historical cities of Peru, and enjoy the local cultural traditions of Huanaco. Trip cost - $2,150

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

2011-12 Program Totals
  • More than 12,596 hours of community service completed (all ASE programs)
  • 28 programs
  • 332 Appalachian students, staff and faculty participants
  • 30 hours of service per participant for Spring Break programs
  • 94% of participants surveyed agreed that they were more interested in being a part of service opportunities in the future because of their ASE experience
Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT)
Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT)

Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) provides service experiences as opportunities to connect and engage with others to build authentic relationships, stimulate critical thinking and skill building, and recognize individual impact and responsibility to the local and global community. ACT partners with over 160 local nonprofits. Initiatives include blood drives, hunger and homeless awareness events, fundraising for local charities and alternative service experiences.

Learn more
Office of International Education and Development
Office of International Education and Development

The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society.

Learn more
Students learn cutting-edge economics research in Cuba
Students learn cutting-edge economics research in Cuba
Dec. 19, 2012

A collaboration between the Center for Study of the Cuban Economy at the University of Havana and Appalachian's Walker College of Business allows for the exchange of ideas between Appalachian students and faculty, and thought leaders in Cuba who are key to effecting change and building relationships between Cuba and the U.S.

Read the story
A passion for travel leads to overseas success
A passion for travel leads to overseas success
Dec. 17, 2012

Melanie Whitaker '01 is the learning and development manager for the Dorchester Collection, three, five-star luxury hotels in the United Kingdom. She oversees training and development for more than 1,100 employees. A study abroad opportunity led her to discover a passion that developed her career.

Read the story
Study abroad fosters critical and creative thinking
Study abroad fosters critical and creative thinking
Dec. 17, 2012

Appalachian's undergraduate and graduate degree programs are preparing graduates to be critical, creative and global professionals.

Read the story

About the Office of International Programs

Appalachian State University combines a strong liberal arts foundation with a comprehensive, pervasive and integrated commitment to global engagement. The Office of International Programs assists App State in fulfilling its global engagement mission by working to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences — in both domestic and international contexts — in the university’s students, faculty and staff, as well as in the surrounding communities. Learn more at https://international.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

"Programs like this help bring awareness of how you as one person can cause an impact. It may be very small, but can affect change."

Mandy Driver '12

"This was a great experience for me. Probably one of the best experiences I've had in my life. It was really liberating and rewarding to help a non-profit organization. I was also inspired to find something that really moves me enough to be passionate about it for the majority of my life. Oh and I got to drive a bulldozer. Where else would I be able to do that?"

an ASE survey respondent

2011-12 Program Totals
  • More than 12,596 hours of community service completed (all ASE programs)
  • 28 programs
  • 332 Appalachian students, staff and faculty participants
  • 30 hours of service per participant for Spring Break programs
  • 94% of participants surveyed agreed that they were more interested in being a part of service opportunities in the future because of their ASE experience
Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT)
Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT)

Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) provides service experiences as opportunities to connect and engage with others to build authentic relationships, stimulate critical thinking and skill building, and recognize individual impact and responsibility to the local and global community. ACT partners with over 160 local nonprofits. Initiatives include blood drives, hunger and homeless awareness events, fundraising for local charities and alternative service experiences.

Learn more
Office of International Education and Development
Office of International Education and Development

The OIED is responsible for spearheading the internationalization efforts at Appalachian. The internationalization mission of Appalachian is to develop awareness, knowledge, appreciation and respect of cultural differences in both domestic and international contexts in its students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities. The university is also dedicated to creating a campus environment that builds the theoretical and practical skills needed to interact effectively in a global society.

Learn more
Students learn cutting-edge economics research in Cuba
Students learn cutting-edge economics research in Cuba
Dec. 19, 2012

A collaboration between the Center for Study of the Cuban Economy at the University of Havana and Appalachian's Walker College of Business allows for the exchange of ideas between Appalachian students and faculty, and thought leaders in Cuba who are key to effecting change and building relationships between Cuba and the U.S.

Read the story
A passion for travel leads to overseas success
A passion for travel leads to overseas success
Dec. 17, 2012

Melanie Whitaker '01 is the learning and development manager for the Dorchester Collection, three, five-star luxury hotels in the United Kingdom. She oversees training and development for more than 1,100 employees. A study abroad opportunity led her to discover a passion that developed her career.

Read the story
Study abroad fosters critical and creative thinking
Study abroad fosters critical and creative thinking
Dec. 17, 2012

Appalachian's undergraduate and graduate degree programs are preparing graduates to be critical, creative and global professionals.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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