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Maren Sumner, a first-year recreation management major, left, and Kate Hoffman, a first-year nursing major, help with daily farm tasks at Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary — one of three ASE programs offered over the 2019 fall break. Photo submitted

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Participants in the ASE Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary program display an Appalachian State University banner. ASE partnered for the third year with Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary in Providence, a sanctuary for farm animals that have been rescued from the animal agriculture industry. This program addresses the issue of animal rights and the intersectionality of human–animal oppression. Pictured at the farm sanctuary, from left to right, back row to front row, are Jordan Moore; Mailyn Greig-Ratz; Ann Sekutowski; Ziggy’s co-founder Jay Yontz; Yontz’s mother, Debbie Merricks; Bri Carter; Anna Wagner; Kate Hoffman; Zach Myers; Sonya Long; Kennedy Little; Jayne Oravec-Heater, a Ziggy’s employee; Maren Sumner; and Jordan McKay. Photo submitted

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ASE participant Mailyn Greig-Ratz, a sophomore sustainable development major, helps paint a barn at Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary in Providence. Photo submitted

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Bri Carter, a senior communication, public relations major, left, and Ann Sekutowski, a senior nutrition and foods major, participate in the ASE Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary program by helping in the farm’s barns. Photo submitted

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ASE participant Jordan Moore, a junior chemistry major, drives an all-terrain vehicle with supplies to help with daily farm tasks at Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary. Photo submitted

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Participants in the ASE Camp Twin Lakes program partnered for the first time with Camp Twin Lakes Will-A-Way in Winder, Georgia. The volunteers served as Family Buddies for the three-day You B You Family Camp for children with autism and their families. Each participant was assigned a family and helped with various tasks — from dishes after meal time to camp activities such as archery, fishing and boating. Pictured at the camp’s entrance, from left to right, back row to front row, are RaShaun Robinson; Meagan Finlay; Briana Farrar; Caroline Bland; Megan Aeschleman; Silvanna Curtin; Gabby Andux; Audrey Rudisnky; Karina Soriano; and Megann Southworth. Photo submitted

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Participants in the ASE Camp Twin Lakes program completed service projects on the camp grounds. In this photo, participants Caroline Bland, a sophomore social work major, left, and Megann Southworth, a senior sustainable development major, remove trash from the cabins. Photo submitted

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ASE participants help clean the fire pit at Camp Twin Lakes Will-A-Way in Winder, Georgia, as part of their fall break service project. Pictured, from left to right, are Karina Soriano; RaShaun Robinson; Megann Southworth; Caroline Bland; and Audrey Rudinsky. Photo submitted

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Participants in the ASE Human Trafficking Awareness program worked with Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network (CVAN), Safe Alliance and Lily Pad Haven, all in the Charlotte area. They completed service projects, such as groundskeeping, stocking and taking inventory of donations and supplies and staffing a food kitchen. Pictured at Safe Alliance, left to right, are ASE participants Grady Mitchell; Kyera McCrimmon; Debbie Poulos; Rachel Brown; Michala Penninger; Libby Rose; Elias Devendorf and Mara Buskey. Photo submitted

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A fall break of service: Appalachian students and staff give back to communities through Alternative Service Experience

By Megan Bruffy
Posted Nov. 1, 2019 at 1:58 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — During fall break, 29 students, staff and faculty gave back to organizations in North Carolina and Georgia by participating in Alternative Service Experience (ASE) programs offered through Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) — part of Appalachian State University’s Division of Student Affairs.

During fall break, groups participated in three ASE programs: Ziggy’s Refuge Farm Sanctuary in Providence; Camp Twin Lakes’ You B You Camp for autistic children and their families in Winder, Georgia; and Charlotte-based human trafficking and women’s rights organizations Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network (CVAN), Safe Alliance and Lily Pad Haven.

Appalachian’s ASE programs provide opportunities for service, learning and exploration. Within each ASE program, Appalachian faculty and staff members acted as Learning Partners and fellow students served as Peer Leaders as they worked alongside community organizations to support service projects.

This photo gallery highlights the many service and learning opportunities through which students, faculty and staff used their fall break to make a difference beyond the Appalachian Community.

What do you think?

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Alternative Service Experience
Alternative Service Experience

The Alternative Service Experience Program immerses students in a service experience in local, domestic and international communities. Its trips are created and led by trained student peer leaders and involve direct service to a community, purposeful reflection and relationship building with fellow students. All focus on a particular social issue such as homelessness, the environment or youth. The program was honored in 2017 with being ranked 10th in the nation for the number of alternative break programs it offered in 2015-16 by Break Away, a national nonprofit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs.

Learn more
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

About the Alternative Service Experience Program

The Alternative Service Experience Program immerses students in a service experience in local, domestic and international communities. Its trips are created and led by trained student peer leaders and involve direct service to a community, purposeful reflection and relationship building with fellow students. All focus on a particular social issue such as homelessness, the environment or youth. The program was honored in 2017 with being ranked 10th in the nation for the number of alternative break programs it offered in 2015-16 by Break Away, a national nonprofit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs. Learn more at https://ase.appstate.edu.

About the Division of Student Affairs

The Division of Student Affairs at Appalachian State University is committed to the development of lifelong learners and leaders by engaging and challenging students within a culture of care and inclusion. The division consists of 16 units that offer activities and services to help students develop more fully by becoming global learners, fostering healthy relationships, appreciating diversity and different perspectives, understanding community responsibility, enhancing self-awareness, developing autonomy and living ethically. These units include the Career Development Center, Campus Activities, Office of Community-Engaged Leadership, Wellness and Prevention Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Service, Parent and Family Services, University Housing, Student Conduct, University Recreation, Intercultural Student Affairs, Student Legal Clinic and Off-Campus Student Services, Electronic Student Services, Child Development Center, and Staff Development and Strategic Initiatives. Learn more at https://studentaffairs.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.

Alternative Service Experience
Alternative Service Experience

The Alternative Service Experience Program immerses students in a service experience in local, domestic and international communities. Its trips are created and led by trained student peer leaders and involve direct service to a community, purposeful reflection and relationship building with fellow students. All focus on a particular social issue such as homelessness, the environment or youth. The program was honored in 2017 with being ranked 10th in the nation for the number of alternative break programs it offered in 2015-16 by Break Away, a national nonprofit organization that supports the development of quality alternative break programs.

Learn more
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

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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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Topics

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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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