While the call of sun and surf lured many students, 16 students from the University of Kentucky took this opportunity to spend a humanitarian spring break. Students involved in the UK chapter of Habitat for Humanity, including the College of Design’s Rachel Crosslin, visited New Orleans to work on a project in the Upper 9th Ward.

Crosslin, who is an SOA student and this year’s Habitat co-president, helped her fellow UK students set up trusses, put up walls and work on the roofing for two houses in the area. She said the experience was truly a benefit in her future career plans. “There’s always something new to learn on a site,” Crosslin explained. “The more you work, the more you understand what you want to do.”

She was also able to meet one of the new homeowner’s, who shared that Crosslin had worked on what would be her son’s room. “I always enjoy giving back and to see how it relates to my major,” shared Crosslin. “I like [Habitat’s] vision of providing affordable places to live for people.”