The university's Habitat for Humanity chapter will send up to 10 students on a trip to Houston over spring break to build a house as part of the Collegiate Challenge program. 

Nikasha Chandhok, a sophomore economics major and Habitat for Humanity’s vice president of operations, said the students will be involved in a week-long building project to help one family, who will assist with the construction.

Chandhok, who has been involved with Habitat for Humanity since her freshman year, said students will stay at a church in Houston throughout the week. The trip will cost $200, which includes all meals, transportation and lodging.

Jordan Mazurek, a senior sociology major and past president of the chapter, said this will be the third year the campus chapter has participated in the alternative spring break program.

Participants will meet students from other universities across the nation. Collegiate Challenge is a special experience because of the friendships made while on the trip, Mazurek said.

“In that span of a week, you make friendships that last a lifetime,” he said. “Some of my closest friends I made on Collegiate Challenge trips because you really get a chance to talk about substantial, meaningful things that you normally don’t get to do in normal conversations.”

Mazurek, who has gone on the trip every year, also said he values the importance of giving back to the community and making a difference, rather than partying on spring break.

“[Collegiate Challenge] was really impactful for me because you don’t often get a chance, especially with our busy lives, to take some intentional time out and go give back to the community and really get to know the people in the community,” he said. “It gives me that week where I can just put everything else aside and say, ‘This week is about serving.’”

Applications for the Collegiate Challenge are due by Dec. 1 and can be found online at: https://orgsync.com/11863/forms/62288. Those interested in going on the trip can also contact Chandhok at [email protected].