For many college students, spring break is a week to take it easy. But 47 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 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 10th year of the program.

This year students will spend their time doing service work at locations in Mississippi, Texas and Illinois. Teams leave on March 25, and return on March 29 and April 1. Earlier this year, a group of students traveled to Santa Julia, Nicaragua, and in May, a group will travel to Anchorage, Alaska.

Individuals and businesses that are interested in helping sponsor the students are encouraged to visit the Miner Challenge website at minerchallenge.mst.edu. Miner Challenge will also sponsor a trivia night to raise funds from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Hasselmann Alumni House, located at 1100 N. Pine St. in Rolla. To register a team for the event visit minerchallenge.mst.edu.

“Our students’ dedication to ensuring quality of life and dignity for all members of our global community is far-reaching,” says John Gallagher, director of student life at Missouri S&T. “We look toward expanding programs to accommodate every student who wishes to participate.”

“Participants of Miner Challenge strive to dream big, work hard and change lives,” says Jessica Haywood, program administrator for volunteerism and Greek life at Missouri S&T. “The students appreciate all of the donation they have received to date from local businesses and community members.”

A team of 13 students will travel to Biloxi, Mississippi, to work with local homeless shelters, food pantries and a local women’s shelter, as well as work on an environmental restoration project. They are:

• Loya VanOrder, a junior in business and management systems from Rolla, Missouri, trip leader
• Zeshan Hyder, an assistant teaching professor in mining and nuclear engineering at Missouri S&T, trip advisor
• Abdullah Felemban, a junior in petroleum engineering from Saudi Arabia
• Quinn Myers, a sophomore in ceramic engineering from Washington, Missouri
• Taylor Sheldon, a junior in mechanical engineering from O’Fallon, Missouri
• Dylan Yegge, a junior in mechanical engineering from Washington, Missouri
• Terry Maxwell, a sophomore in applied mathematics from St. Peters, Missouri
• George Malinee, a junior in mechanical engineering from Wentzville, Missouri
• Shelby Stoner, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Blue Springs, Missouri
• Alexander Kessel, a junior in engineering management from St. Louis
• Razan Alyamani, a junior in business and management systems from Saudi Arabia
• Alex Lodholz, a senior in chemical engineering from Bonne Terre, Missouri
• Jonathan Colgan, a senior in mechanical engineering from Kaiser, Missouri
• Brooke Boulais, a junior in applied mathematics from Crestwood, Illinois

A team of 12 students will travel to San Marcos, Texas, to work with the St. Bernard Project and to help build a house for a family impacted by multiple floods in recent years. They are:

• Andrew Embrey, a senior in civil engineering from Lawson, Missouri, trip leader
• John Gallagher, director of student life at Missouri S&T, trip advisor
• Nathan Compton, a senior in mechanical engineering from Macon, Missouri
• Nicholas Glover, a senior in electrical engineering from Algonquin, Illinois
• Zachary Hart, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Fulshear, Texas
• Fraser Head, a senior in mechanical engineering and engineering management from Katy, Texas
• Amanda Juengst, a senior in mechanical engineering from St. Louis
• Brittney Kennedy, a junior in civil engineering from St. Charles, Missouri
• Samuel Onyemelukwe, a senior in engineering management from Rolla
• Lauren Powers, a junior in mechanical engineering from Independence, Missouri
• Mckenzie Shea, a sophomore in metallurgical engineering from St. Charles, Missouri
• Ariel Williams, a senior in engineering management from St. Louis
• Sarah Haug, a sophomore in chemical engineering from Fenton, Missouri

A team of 15 students will travel to southern Texas to perform environmental restoration and trail maintenance at Bastrop State Park. They are:

• Michael Janke, a senior in civil engineering from Rolla, trip leader
• Darian Johnson Potts, student support specialist in student success programs at Missouri S&T, trip advisor
• Abigail Pemberton, a freshman in architectural engineering from Moberly, Missouri
• Anthony Innes, a senior in mechanical engineering from Lees Summit, Missouri
• Hannah Butler, a sophomore in ceramic engineering from Lincolnshire, Illinois
• Jane Waweru, a senior in civil engineering from Rolla
• Joshua Holl, a senior in mining engineering from Rolla
• Justin Rogers, a freshman in mechanical engineering from Mascoutah, Illinois
• Katlyn Maas, a sophomore in engineering management from Bolivar, Missouri
• Laura Riegel, a senior in geological engineering from Washington, Missouri
• Matthew Dorsey, a senior in chemical engineering from Rolla
• Tingting Xu, a senior in business and management systems from Rolla
• Tobias Heselton, a senior in environmental engineering from Rolla
• Travis Goodin, a senior in mechanical engineering from Scott City, Missouri
• Tyler Grant, a senior in ceramic engineering from Rolla
• Victoria Chan, a junior in civil engineering from Jefferson City, Missouri

A team of seven students will travel to Chicago Ridge, Illinois, to work with the Animal Welfare League to socialize homeless animals, clean kennels and facilities and learn how the facility educates local residents about responsible animal care. They are:

• Mikaela Mockenhaupt, a junior in mechanical engineering from Oswego, Illinois, trip leader
• Tracie Devault, a lecturer in arts, languages and philosophy at Missouri S&T, trip advisor
• Richard Schmidt, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from St. Peters, Missouri
• Alexandria Doll, a sophomore in ceramic engineering from Owensville, Missouri
• Jennifer Huber, a senior in civil engineering from Godfrey, Illinois
• Margaret Greenley, a freshman in biological sciences from Springfield, Missouri
• Samantha McClenning, a sophomore in biological sciences from Ballwin, Missouri
• Kyle Brown, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Greenwood, Missouri.