Student Volunteers Rise to Challenge in New Orleans
During 2024 intersession, nine students and two faculty chaperones faced record icy conditions while in Louisiana for a service trip with The University of Scranton’s Center for Service and Social Justice. They partnered with the Saint Bernard Project (SBP), a national disaster recovery and resilience organization. A few Royals are shown during the process of rebuilding houses that had been destroyed in recent hurricanes and floods. Shown, front row, from left: Andrew Gagnon '26, Sara Wynne '25, Katie Olafson '24, Lucia DeCarvalho '27, Gianna Muscatello '27. Back row: Dr. Daniel Cosacchi, vice president for mission and ministry, and chaperone,Watch for additional #Intersession2024 coverage in the coming weeks!
By: Ryan Sophabmixay '24, student correspondent
Despite the freezing temperature drop in New Orleans, Louisiana, The University of Scranton Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ) members and staff made the most of their recent domestic service trip by forming a deeper connection with the city and its people.
“There was a freeze in New Orleans for the first time in five years which acted as a setback for us, but it allowed us to perform a larger variety of service when the sites were closed, rather than just construction,” said Sara Wynne ’25, a forensic chemistry major, referencing the Arctic front and icy conditions that prompted citywide closures.
During intersession, nine students and two faculty chaperones, shown below, faced record icy conditions while in Louisiana for a service trip with The University's Center for Service and Social Justice. They partnered with the Saint Bernard Project (SBP), a national disaster recovery and resilience organization, and had hopes of making a substantial difference by forming meaningful connections and rebuilding homes for people in the area. The weather during their visit, Jan. 14 -20, made it much more difficult to get on the work sites where they were scheduled to help rebuild houses that had been destroyed in recent hurricanes and floods.
Upon arriving at Camp Hope on Jan. 15, Wynne received a notice that the work sites were closing on Jan. 16. On the day, despite the closure, the junior from Staten Island, New York and her group continued their service by cleaning the camp, specifically the upstairs bunk rooms, before touring the Metairie Cemetery.
The following day, the work site closed again. Wynne, a peer facilitator for the service trip, discussed options with the chaperones and decided to take the group to tour Loyola University New Orleans and later visit the SBP headquarters.
Shown, are University of Scranton volunteers with Americorp members. Front row, from left, are: an Americorp member, Lucia DeCarvalho '27, Katie Olafson '24, Maria Manno '24, Emma Burak '25, Gianna Muscatello '27, Emily Norwak, graduate student. Back row: Andrew Gagnon '26, Sara Wynne '25, Dr. Daniel Cosacchi, vice president for mission and ministry, Connor Gannon '27, Jill Wall, chaperone, and an Americorp member.
“We wanted to familiarize ourselves with New Orleans history,” said Wynne, shown above, second row, second from left.
“We got to meet and talk to a lot of great people with smiling faces.”
Even though the intersession trip was met with weather difficulties, Wynne, who had gained experience in her first domestic service trip one year prior, kept a positive mindset and made the most out of the experience.
“Hearing about site closures was, of course, disappointing for me, especially when it came to breaking the news to my group. However, I know that everything happens for a reason and in our best interest and safety. I stayed positive and the rest of my group did a fantastic job at doing so also,” Wynne said.
“Everyone that is a member of CSSJ wants to help people, which is why I am so happy that I found it my sophomore year. I think it's wonderful to desire to change lives and take into account those that are struggling, especially during our college years.”
