Shippensburg University honors program, Reach Out, is inviting students of all ages and majors to join its service-learning project this semester.
The program is hosting various events this week to try to get new students to support education in the Dominican Republic and inform more people about what they do.
Reach Out added some flare to getting students interested by having a Mediterranean-style dinner inside of Kriner dining hall Wednesday night.
Some dinner choices were rice, black beans, chicken in tomato sauce, spicy beans in sauce, peach cobbler and pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries.
Elizabeth Karper, freshman, said she was pleasantly surprised and that she liked that it was different from what Kriner normally serves. Alongside her, Allison Wilson, also a freshman, said she loved the pancakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries.
Shelby Coghill, junior and member of Reach Out, said this was the second dinner hosted in Kriner. They fundraise throughout the semester.
Their committee is made up of dedicated students and faculty.
Rob Lesman, acting department chair in the SU Modern Languages Department, advises the students who come along to Santo Domingo. About 10 to 12 students travel every year to assist and work with teachers and students at the school.
“The teachers are kind and easy to work with. You don’t have to know a great deal of Spanish to attend the trip. Many people with different levels of Spanish travel along and Dr. Lesman helps students beyond the language barrier,” Coghill said.
She traveled there last fall and said she had a good time and experience with the children. Reach Out’s mission is to support both domestic and international educational programs through establishing local partnerships while emphasizing cultural understanding.
Their last event, Dominican Domain, was held on Feb.22 in McFeely’s Coffeehouse. Free smoothies and snacks were provided along with fun activities, music, games, and door prizes.
You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and they hold meetings every Monday night in Lehman Library Room 106.
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