Wittenberg University

Student Organization at Wittenberg Holds Fund Raiser for Trip to Nicaragua

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - On Wednesday, Feb. 5, S.T.A.N.D. (Students Taking Action Now Dammit) held a fund-raising event at the Ringside bar in Springfield. The event featured a concert with such acts as Munkey Juice, Wittmen Crew, Operator Mike, and Bickey and the Pirates.

"It was a really good turnout with between 150-175 people coming; we made about $720 on the night, including donations," said Sarah Garrison, a Wittenberg junior and one of the leaders of the fund-raising campaign.

The group is raising funds to travel to Nicaragua during Spring Break, March 8-16, to participate in a home-building project in conjunction with the non-profit organization Bridges to Community as part of an earthquake relief program. The group will be traveling to a community called Tihuantepe, next to Lake Nicaragua and a volcano. Wittenberg alumnus Chuck Ramsey '68 is associated with this organization and helped the students obtain scholarships to help fund the trip. More information on this organization can be gained by visiting its Web site www.bridgestocommunity.org.

S.T.A.N.D.'s goal is to raise $20,800 by the end of February, and it still needs $8,000. Divided between 16 people this means about $550 each. "At $1,325 per person, the high cost of the trip covers some building materials, as well as modest (hammock and schoolroom) accommodations and airfare," said S.T.A.N.D. member Jay Scouten, a senior at Wittenberg. The group has received donations from a letter-writing campaign as well as from professors and students on campus. The group is also in the process of fund raising through the HPER Center concession stand and a meal-donation program through dining services.

Donations can be made by contacting Sarah Garrison at s04.sgarrison@wittenberg.edu, Jay Scouten at s03.jscouten@wittenberg.edu, or any other group member. Wittenberg students planning to make the trip are Sarah Garrison, Kirsten Glove, Robert Heise, Luke Horner, Ali Illuzzi, Judson Lohman, Lucinda Morgan, A.J. Kessler, Sarah Pettit, Jay Scouten, Kellie Slezak, Megan Stucki, Rachel Vingsness, William Wallace, Anna Wolf and Paul Wilson.

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