Centering and Serving
Ohio Wesleyan Students Complete Spring Break Service Work in South Carolina, South Dakota
DELAWARE, Ohio – Two teams of Ohio Wesleyan University students spent a week helping others as part of OWU's annual Spring Break Service Week program.
Before the teams left, and again at a return celebration, they received blessings from University Chaplain Chad Johns, director of Spring Break Service Week. A 2002 Ohio Wesleyan graduate, Johns annually shares a traditional Franciscan blessing to guide the teams in their journeys:
"May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships … with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people and the earth … with tears to shed for those who suffer so you will reach out your hands to comfort them and change their pain into joy," Johns said. "And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so you will do the things which others say cannot be done."
The teams traveled between March 9 and March 17, and gathered together March 26 to share images and insights from their experiences. The 2024 teams, including their destinations, missions, and members, were:
Building and Rebuilding: Lakota Nation, South Dakota
This interfaith team continued Ohio Wesleyan's long-term mission to rebuild Lakota-Anglo relationships through respectful conversation, deep critical reflection, and dedicated service. The students worked with Lakota Youth Development, which serves those living on- and off-reservation as a site for cultural learning and growth, guidance for youth, and aid for Lakota people with physical impairments.
- Aaron Gonzales (student leader) of Richfield, Ohio
- Jenni Le (student leader) of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Raazia Aamir of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
- Radhika Agrawal of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Mo Carntal of Newark, Ohio
- Rukevwe Diohwo of Dayton, Ohio
- Ryleigh Jones of Newark, Ohio
- Gabrielle Magid of Germantown, Maryland
- Mylah Morris of Seville, Ohio
- Newton Kimberly, OWU Class of 2013, faculty-staff adviser
- David Soliday, faculty-staff adviser
Service and Nature: Urban and Elsewhere (Centering Black Students), South Carolina
These students, while focusing on the healthful benefits of immersing themselves in nature and the fresh, nutritious foods sourced from it, also explored the connections individuals share, both locally and globally. They not only addressed community health but also centered Black students in a space where their sense of belonging is often overlooked.
- Faith Deschamps (student leader) of East Orange, New Jersey
- Marquel Henry (student leader) of Dayton, Ohio
- Dillon Shelton (student leader) of Solon, Ohio
- Kaylen Brandt of Chicago, Illinois
- Justice Clark of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Zachary Donley of Galloway, Ohio
- Marquis Henry of Dayton, Ohio
- Tymir Hill of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mila Noel of Delray Beach, Florida
- Alhaji Sidibe of Canal Winchester, Ohio
- Christopher Mickens, faculty-staff adviser
- Adrian Moran, OWU Class of 2023, faculty-staff adviser
Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan's annual Spring Break Service Week program at owu.edu/InterfaithService.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.