The Faces of the 2012 Alternative Spring Break Scholarship Recipients

Five outstanding University of Colorado -Boulder students have received an Alternative Spring Break scholarship stipend enabling them to travel to another part of the country and perform community service over their college spring break. All of the students evidenced financial need and would not have been able to participate without this scholarship stipend from the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation. This year’s recipients are as follows:

Chelsea Miller

Leticia Martinez

Taylor Hayes

Jamie Haller

Franky Navarrette

Chelsea Miller is an International Relations major focusing on social justice in Africa and the Middle East. Her dream is “to save the world.” Chelsea will be spending her spring break volunteering in Atlanta, GA with an organization that supports marginalized girls in all aspects of their development, attempting to break the cycles of poverty, low self-esteem, and teen pregnancy.

Leticia Martinez is a junior Psychology and Women’s Studies student who is interested in animal welfare and feminism and has dedicated her life to understanding alcoholism and addiction and helping others overcome substance dependence. Leticia will be attending the “Youth and Illness” trip to Florida, helping terminally ill children fulfill their wishes.

Taylor Hayes is a freshman double majoring in History and Evolutionary Biology and has been involved in volunteer work for many years. His hope is “to make this world a better place.” Taylor will be spending his spring break on an environmental conservation trip to Catalina Island, CA.

Sophomore International Relations major, Jamie Haller is involved in many causes, striving to leave this world better than when she found it. She hopes to work on education issues in developing nations, believing that lack of education is the root cause for many of the social issues in today’s world. Jamie will be spending her spring break volunteering in New Orleans, helping to rebuild homes for Katrina victims.

Pre-med student Francesca Navarrettelost her mother to cancer less than 2 years ago and has chosen the healthcare field since, although she can’t bring her mother back, she wants to “truly help people.” She has extensive volunteer experience and is a member of the student Equity Leadership cohort. “Franky” hopes that oppression can one day be eradicated from society and that our differences can be embraced, not just tolerated. Franky will be spending a week in the Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community in Upstate New York learning about the tribe’s history and traditions while working alongside its residents on their fully sufficient organic farm.

Look for the upcoming articles in April about the students’ spring break experiences.