TOPEKA – Fifteen Washburn University students have chosen to use their fall break, Oct. 2-5, to continue to help rebuild houses in Greensburg after the town was hit by an EF5 tornado on May 4, 2007, which destroyed 95 percent of the city and killed 12 people. This is the third service trip to Greensburg Washburn students have participated in. Alternative break programs allow students to perform short term projects and give students opportunities to learn about the problems faced by members of communities with whom they otherwise may have had little or no direct contact.

Being completely immersed into diverse environments enables participants to experience, discuss, and understand social issues in a significant way. The intensity of the experience increases the likelihood that participants will transfer the lessons learned on-site back to their own communities even after the alternative break ends.

The Disaster Response Team at Washburn is sponsoring the event. For more information, contact the Learning in the Community office at (785) 670-1950 or Whitney Philippi at (620) 428-1102.