Colonial States Athletic Conference - Centenary Student-Athletes Assist with CSAC Habitat for Humanity Build

Centenary College - Co-Head Women's Basketball Coach

Centenary Student-Athletes Assist with CSAC Habitat for Humanity Build

6/19/2009 9:10:28 PM

LAUREL, Del. (June 10, 2009) – Eleven student-athletes, representing five Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) schools, traveled to Laurel, Del., from June 4-6, to participate in the CSAC Habitat for Humanity Build. The group helped the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity build homes for low-income families.

The group included Anne Konicki of Cabrini College, Leann Wallower and Lauren Seale of Cedar Crest College, Elizabeth Kemp and Elizabeth Goodwin of Rosemont College, Justin Brubaker and Oliver Good of Philadelphia Biblical University and Caitlyn Winkler, Megan Mars, Ryan Kearney and Rob Urie of Centenary College.

The student-athletes worked on two houses during their three days. On Thursday, June 4, they put together scaffolding around the exterior of a two-story duplex, framing and building the walls on the second floor and attaching belly boards around the outside of the home.

The next day, the group got together to work on the bedrooms and bathrooms of a ranch-style house. They spackled, caulked, primed and painted and began installation of the bathroom cabinetry. They also cut and installed baseboard trim in the living room and hallway of the house.

On their final day, the CSAC student-athletes went back to the two-story duplex, this time to clean out the first floor of the rain that had come in. They cut and framed windows for the second floor bedrooms and built scaffolding to the third floor. The group built fire wall panels for the roof and extended that through the roof trusses.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. To accomplish these goals, HFH invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need. It was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda, and has built over 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent and affordable shelter. For more information, visit www.habitat.org. For the Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, log on to www.sussexcountyhabitat.org.

Thursday June 4, 2009

Worked on Green Avenue House – 2-Story Duplex – 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath

Build scaffolding around exterior of house

Framing & walls - 2 exterior walls – 2^nd floor

Attach belly boards around outside of house

Framing – upstairs – 3 bedrooms, full bath, 4 closets

Friday June 5, 2009

Worked on Concord Village House – Ranch – 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath

Cut & install laundry room door & frame

Install all interior doorknobs & door stops through entire house

Spackling & putty all walls, trim & doors – all bathrooms & bedrooms

Caulking door frames & windows – all bathrooms & bedrooms

Priming & painting trim, doors – all bathrooms & bedrooms

Begin installation of bathroom cabinetry

Cut & install baseboard trim in living room & hallway

Saturday June 6, 2009

Worked on Green Avenue House – 2-Story Duplex – 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath

Sweep/drain water out of 1st floor from rain

Cut/frame windows on 2nd floor bedrooms

Build scaffolding to 3rd floor (front & rear of house)

2 main center trusses hoisted to roof

Build fire wall panels for roof

Fire wall installed/extended through roof trusses

Sheeted end trusses / prepared gutter overhang

Finish belly board on rear of house

Power tools used

Nail gun

Staple gun

Circular saw

Chop saw

Homeowners

Dionne

Matt

Ciara

Maria

Ricardo

Habitat volunteers

Becky

Jeff

Bob Patterson

Bob Kellner

Bob Kelly

Rob

Paul

Brooke

Allison

Adam

Kiera

Student Statements

Anne Konicki, Cabrini College – Habitat for Humanity is a really rewarding experience. I’ve always thought that those who were given much in life should share that with others. That’s what this was, giving back to the community.

Leann Wallower, Cedar Crest College - This was my second trip with Habitat and it was just as rewarding as the first. This was such a rewarding experience because I know I am helping people who need. It was really cool meeting all the kids and Habitat workers, everyone was nice and helpful.

Elizabeth Kemp, Rosemont College - HFH was a fun and fabulous experience. I feel that this group accomplished so much work on the houses that needed help. Everyone worked well together to help with all the projects that needed to be done.

Justin Brubaker and Oliver Good, Philadelphia Biblical University - Our experience with Habitat for Humanity was rewarding because we were able to assist with the building of houses for those in need. The workers from Habitat were very professional and friendly. It was also great to hang out with other athletes who also had the goal of helping others.

Caitlyn Winkler, Centenary College - Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. My family has worked here and there for Habitat through the years and I feel honored to be able to say, I worked with Habitat to make some one’s life better. Our group of college students/athletes worked well together and tackled every job to its completion. For me, this experience has opened the door to friendship, learning, and most of all, love.

Lauren Seale, Cedar Crest College - My weekend doing habitat was a remarkable one. Everyone was very nice and we all worked together very well. After doing habitat in York, pa last year I really wanted to do it again. This experience was a great one and using the nail gun was the best part!

Elizabeth Goodwin, Rosemont College – Even though the weather wasn’t always sunny and nice, I was really awed by how well the group came together to make houses. I think it just shows how great all these teams are able to work together even though some may be rivals.

Meg Mars, Centenary College - Nothing feels more rewarding than giving back to society. Volunteering and contributing to bettering the lives of others grants an opportunity to take a step back and appreciate what you have. I have enjoyed my experience and can’t wait to do it again!

Ryan Kearney, Centenary College - Working with the habitat for humanity was a great experience. Nothing is better than people helping other people.

Rob Urie, Centenary College - Anytime that you can give back to the community and help people in need, you will have a gratifying experience. Habitat for Humanity does this on a daily basis and it was a pleasure working with them throughout this trip.