Some of the participant’s preparing for the Miner Mudder fundraiser that will be held on March 8 at The Fugitive Run near Rolla.

For many students, spring break is a week to take it easy. But 60 students from Missouri University of Science and Technology will instead spend an eye-opening week learning how others struggle and discovering ways they can help.

The students are involved in Missouri S&T’s Miner Challenge, a week-long alternative spring break program that gives them a chance to help individuals and communities affected by issues like poverty, homelessness, a lack of access to education and natural disasters, while developing their own leadership skills. This is the sixth year of the program.

This year students will spend their time doing service work in Nicaragua, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas. Teams leave on Saturday, March 22, and return on Saturday, March 29.

Individuals and businesses that are interested in helping sponsor the students are encouraged to visit the Miner Challenge website at minerchallenge.mst.edu. So far, the group has raised about $15,000 of a $20,000 goal for the trips.

A team of 10 students will travel to Jinotega, Nicaragua, to work with young students on their English, mathematics, science and vocational skills. They are:

• Raheel Hassan, trip leader and a senior in biological sciences from St. Louis
• Danielle Bowles-Martin, a senior in chemical engineering from St. Louis
• Jamie Christine Clark, a sophomore in environmental engineering from Eolia, Mo.
• Nathan Dowd, a senior in civil engineering from Lee’s Summit, Mo.
• Ryley Gardner, a sophomore in civil engineering from Ozark, Mo.
• Emily Hernandez, a sophomore in electrical engineering from Germantown, Tenn.
• Sarah Jones, a junior in applied mathematics from Saint Charles, Mo.
• Catherine Josten, a senior in mechanical engineering from St. Peters, Mo.
• Candace Miller, a junior in biological sciences from Rolla
• Saki Urushidani, a sophomore in geological engineering from Webster Groves, Mo.

A team of 17 students will travel to Boulder, Colo., to work on flood disaster relief and community development. They are:

• Shelby McNeil, trip leader and a senior in applied mathematics from Republic, Mo.
• Destiny Battle-Hilacion, a sophomore in engineering from Bridgeton, Mo.
• Jonathan Colgan, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Kaiser, Mo.
• Taylor Copeland, a freshman in nuclear engineering from Jefferson City, Mo.
• Miranda Cory, a freshman in civil engineering from Atchison, Kan.
• Ian Denaro, a senior in physics from Rolla
• Michelle Gibson, a junior in environmental engineering from Springfield, Mo.
• Nikki Gomez, a senior in biological sciences from Waynesville, Mo.
• Karim Griffin, a senior in civil engineering from St. Louis
• Jasmin Hill, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Herndon, Ky.
• Olatunbosun Jegede, a graduate student in engineering management from Ondo, Nigeria
• Yae Lin Lee, a freshman in chemical engineering from Incheon, Republic of Korea
• Lavetta Lewis, a junior in economics from St. Louis
• Karan Madra, a graduate student in business administration from Noida, India
• Molly Moran, a freshman in architectural engineering from Manchester, Mo.
• Shayan Sazdar, a freshman in chemical engineering from Chesterfield, Mo.
• Chawakorn Wichulada, a freshman in computer engineering from Nonthaburi, Thailand.

A team of 15 students will travel to Moore, Okla., to work on tornado disaster relief and community development. They are:

• Jihee Belinda Choi, trip leader and a senior in chemistry from Rolla
• Nathan Compton, a freshman in mechanical engineering from Saint Charles, Mo.
• Samuel Cyr, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from St. Robert, Mo.
• Jerrica Givens, a freshman in aerospace engineering from Boss, Mo.
• Mason Lampe, a freshman in petroleum engineering from Caseyville, Ill.
• Kathleen Mazanec, a freshman in ceramic engineering from St. Louis
• Mary McDaniel, a freshman in engineering from Villa Ridge, Mo.
• Kate Menke, a junior in biological sciences from Berger, Mo.
• Seth Molenhour, a junior in chemical engineering from Salem, Mo.
• Christopher Palmer, a senior in chemical engineering from St. Peters, Mo.
• Emily Puleo, a junior in chemistry from St. Louis
• Margaret Schroeder, a graduate student in civil engineering from Bonner Springs, Kan.
• Scott Schroer, a freshman in environmental engineering from St. Louis
• Elise Swanson, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Blue Springs, Mo.
• Brianna Works, a freshman in geological engineering from Ozark, Mo.

A team of 18 students will travel to Austin, Texas, to work with service organizations on elementary education, poverty relief and community development. They are:

• Adam McMikle, trip leader and a junior in history from St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Ryan Beck, student advisor and a senior in mechanical engineering from Louisburg, Kan.
• Nnaemeka Amaeshi, a graduate student in engineering management from Lagos, Nigeria
• Leelaya Chaiwong, a freshman in chemical engineering from Roi Et, Thailand
• Suphanit Chiamchamnong, a freshman in chemical engineering from Angthong, Thailand
• Sunghee Briana Choi, a sophomore in chemistry from Rolla
• Thomas Cooper, a junior in information science and technology from O’Fallon, Mo.
• Elizabeth Deister, a junior in biological sciences from St. Peters, Mo.
• Daksh Desai, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Sullivan, Mo.
• Alexis Jenkin, a freshman in environmental engineering from Kansas City, Mo.
• Ahlam Issa, a junior in chemical engineering from St. Louis
• Katlyn Lonergan, a junior in geology and geophysics from Rolla
• Luke Mueller, a freshman in chemical engineering from O’Fallon, Mo.
• Pranita Nayak, a sophomore in chemistry from Rolla
• Kaley Short, a junior in chemistry from St. Louis
• Stephanie Soendker, a freshman in engineering from Independence, Mo.
• Darrell Wallace, a senior in civil engineering from Lee’s Summit, Mo.
• Jacee Wood, a freshman in metallurgical engineering from Rolla.