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'Reach Out Your Hands'

Ohio Wesleyan Students Complete Spring Break Service Work in Louisiana and South Carolina

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 offer comfort and walk in solidarity from 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 8 and March 16, and gathered together March 26 to share images and insights from their experiences. The 2025 teams, including their destinations, missions, and members, were:

Disaster Recovery with SBP
(New Orleans, Louisiana)

In response to devastating hurricanes, this team worked with SBP, a nonprofit co-founded by 1995 OWU graduate Zack Rosenburg, to aid with the clean-up process as residents seek to rebuild their homes and lives.

• Ash Brown '26 of Delaware, Ohio
• Jenni Le '25 (student leader) of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Emma Luft '25 of Columbus, Ohio
• Graham Mayberry '26 of Urbandale, Iowa
• Emi Paulig '27 of Austin, Texas
• Hayley Read '26 of Uniontown, Ohio
• Madison Salyers '25 of Delaware, Ohio
• Marissa Siegel '25 of Blacklick, Ohio
• Josie Uemura '27 of Reynoldsburg, Ohio
• Newton Kimberly '13 (advisor)
• Kerri Robe (advisor)

Urban and Elsewhere
(South Carolina)

Through rural trails, urban gardening, and more, this team explored ways to serve at the intersections of nature and human need while building community and connection among Black students.

• Aliyana Badger '27 (student leader) of Fort Worth, Texas
• Jalani Ball '27 of Cleveland, Ohio
• Kaylen Brandt '25 (student leader) of Chicago, Illinois
• Nuri Craig '25 (student leader) of Mount Vernon, Ohio
• Semira Hill '25 of Rockville, Maryland
• Ishmir Watson '26 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Marko Williams '27 of Charleston, West Virginia
• Sydasia Williams '27 of Montgomery, West Virginia
• Christopher Mickens (advisor)

Learn more about Ohio Wesleyan's annual Spring Break Service Week program at owu.edu/SpringBreakServiceWeek.

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.