TERRE HAUTE —
When Indiana State University sophomore Rochelle Skaggs learned the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter needed volunteers to build a wheelchair ramp, she quickly volunteered.
Though the Red Cross encountered difficulty finding help for the project before approaching ISU, the Sycamore didn’t hesitate to work on the effort.
“I’m physically handicapped,” said Skaggs, who walks through the use of prosthetic legs. “Being able to be a part of this and help other people, that’s why I wanted to be involved, to give back that way.”
Skaggs was part of a group of students from the College of Technology at ISU who built an access ramp for the Red Cross building in Terre Haute. The group, which included students from various disciplines in the built environment department, volunteered to build the ramp this semester to learn more about concepts that are utilized in construction and engineering.
“It’s giving us the hands-on experience,” said Skaggs, a construction management major from Center Point.
Project volunteers from different majors contributed in different ways on the project, said junior Brandon Martin, a construction management major from Whiteland. Martin led the planning for the project, though students majoring in safety management and interior design also participated in organizing the effort, since they could bring different perspectives and knowledge from different disciplines to complement each other.
“I thought it sounded like a fun project,” Martin said. “I’ve never been in charge of anything like this before. I thought it’d be good experience.”
Though students in built environment typically learn more about aspects related to project management, they were on-site, working directly on all areas of the project, from planning to execution. Everybody has an equal stake in the work, Martin said.
The Wabash Valley Red Cross approached many different organizations about helping to build the access ramp, but had little luck before the ISU students volunteered to take it on, said Carol Stevens, executive director of the Wabash Valley chapter.
“A lot of the work we do is off-site, but we do training here at this facility, and we want to make sure that we are accessible and open to everyone who needs our services, particularly the training services we offer,” she said. “We are a humanitarian organization, so it’s part of our commitment to serving everybody in the community.”
The students worked on the project, and they were able to get some supplies donated, Martin said, so that ultimately the ramp did not cost anything to the Red Cross.
The nonprofit was striving for a cost-effective way to build the ramp, which “is always important to us because we want to put as much of our donated dollars back into services as possible,” Stevens said.
“We are here to help, so that’s how we want to spend our donated dollars, providing services,” she said.
The partnership is more significant for Stevens. For the project, the Red Cross was able to partner with her alma mater; she double majored in sociology and social studies education at ISU. The spouse of Stephanie Land, the emergency services director for the Red Cross, teaches at ISU and helped open discussions for the project.
“Students come here for other kinds of volunteer experiences,” Stevens said. “We’ve had interns from a variety of different departments at ISU, so we’re always happy to collaborate and give students an opportunity to have a real-world experience.”
Schools
ISU students help build access ramp, serve community
- Schools
-
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
This week (May 14) in 1948, at the direction of President Harry Truman, the United States recognized the existence of the newly formed state of Israel, which had declared independence earlier that day. It was, Truman later stated, among the most important decisions of his presidency.
- Reunion listings: May 16, 2013
-
Chances and Services for Youth to participate in food program
The Chances and Services for Youth recently announced plans to participate in the Summer Food Service Program.
-
South Latin students compete at convention
Terre Haute South Vigo High School Latin students competed with other Indiana schools at the recent state convention at ISU.
-
Southwest Parke School Corp. receives eLearning grant
Southwest Parke Community School Corp. has received an Imagining and Creating eLearning grant for the 2013-2014 school year through the Indiana Department of Education.
- Newsmakers: May 16, 2013
-
Otter Creek competes in regional Academic Super Bowl
The Otter Creek Academic Super Bowl teams competed in the regional Academic Super Bowl competition on April 27 at Sarah Scott Middle School.
-
Riverton Parke FFA teams compete at April 16 contest
Two Riverton Parke FFA Parliamentary Procedure Teams competed at the section competition for the Parliamentary Procedure Demonstration Contest on April 16 at the Indiana FFA Center in Trafalgar.
-
Parks offering summer day camp
The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for its summer day camp.
-
State recognizes counties for improving college success
Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers recognized 26 Indiana counties for working to increase the percentage of Hoosiers with education beyond high school. The counties are members of Indiana’s College Success Coalition, a statewide network focused on improving college access and success.
-
College Challenge program earns accreditation
Indiana State University’s College Challenge program for high school students has earned initial accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
-
ISP offers youth an up close look at law enforcement
Most television viewers have seen at least part of a CSI or Law and Order episode. These shows seem to have spurred a new interest in law enforcement and forensics. For more than 40 years the Indiana State Police have been giving young people an up close look at law enforcement through its youth camps program.
-
Goals, Pride & Achievements: May 16, 2013
Alyssa A. Barnes of Clinton graduated from Purdue University on Sunday.
She has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management, with a minor in psychology. -
Woodrow Wilson students collect funds for animals
The leadership team from Woodrow Wilson Middle School sponsored a week of giving to collect funds and supplies for the Terre Haute Humane shelter.
-
Riverton Parke academic bowl team finishes strong
The Riverton Parke English academic bowl team finished as runner-up at the state finals competition on May 4 at Purdue University, and the social studies team swept through all of its last eight questions without a miss to finish third in the contest.
-
Turkey Run High School names top 2013 students
Kaleigh Basan has been named valedictorian and Jeff Woods and Kendall Davies are co-salutatorians for the Turkey Run High School Class of 2013.
Graduation ceremonies will be in the high school gymnasium at 11 a.m. May 25 with 36 students receiving their diplomas. -
Bruce’s history lessons: Spring Cleaning 2013
Time for my annual “Spring Cleaning” column, in which I address reader issues and answer “Frequently Asked Questions.”
-
Moats gets ISU Rankin Award
Indiana State University has honored Katelynn Moats of Terre Haute with the Rankin Memorial Distinguished Senior Award in recognition of her contributions to the betterment of the university.
-
Turkey Run to honor seniors
Turkey Run High School will hold its senior awards and recognition program at 7 p.m. Monday in the ELC room. A reception will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.
The program for freshmen to juniors will be held at 1:32 p.m. May 16 in the high school gymnasium. -
Honey Creek math club earns gold status
Honey Creek Middle School has received Gold Level Status as a participant of the 2013 MATHCOUNTS Club.
-
Riverton Parke students bring home art awards
Students from 15 schools in west central Indiana competed in the 34th annual d’Arlier Trust Spring Art Show on April 19-25 in Veedersburg. Four Riverton Parke High School students won a total of nine awards in six of the show’s 20 categories.
-
Parke Adult Tutoring Service awards mini-grant
The Parke Adult Tutoring Service has awarded a mini-grant of $270 to Riverton Parke English teacher Mike Lunsford to purchase reading materials for his students.
- Vigo County School Corp. Honor Roll — Middle School, Second Grading Period
-
BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Civil War: Means versus ends
The Civil War began this week (April 12) in 1861 with the shelling of the Union fort, Fort Sumter, by Confederate troops in South Carolina. Four years later that war ended with the total defeat of the Confederacy, and in the war’s wake many historians have concluded that a Union victory was inevitable given the huge advantages that the Union North had in terms of manpower, weaponry, manufacturing and industrial capacity.
-
SMWC honored for ‘Pomeroy Pride’
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College received a silver award from the “Higher Education Marketing Report” 28th Annual Educational Advertising Awards. The full-page ad publicly announced the launch of the SMWC’s campaign to build a sports and recreation center, titled the “Pomeroy Pride Campaign.”
-
ISU students garner awards at ITEEA conference
A group of Indiana State University technology and engineering education students talked to each other over walkie-talkies as they recently went to Columbus, Ohio, in a three-car caravan.
-
Indiana State to be recognized for ‘Celebrating Sustainability’
Indiana State University will be recognized in two venues this month as one of 20 colleges and universities nationwide that exemplify the mission of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment to re-stabilize the earth’s climate through education, research and community engagement.
-
Pimento reunion dinner set for May 11
The Pimento School reunion dinner will be held May 11 at Hoosier Prairie School. Friendship hour will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. A meeting and program will conclude the evening.
-
ISU taking applications for Summer Honors program
Indiana State University is accepting applications from talented high school students interested in taking part in this year’s Summer Honors program.
-
ISU student selected as a Newman Fellow
Katelynn Taylor, a junior at Indiana State University, is one of 181 student leaders nationwide selected by Campus Compact as 2013 Newman Civic Fellows.
- More Schools Headlines
-
Bruce’s history lessons: Truman’s decision to recognize Israel
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Today in History May 22
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
