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ISA freshmen are required to complete
the Make a Difference Project which asks students to analyze needs in
their community that reflect the larger needs of our global community.
This year one of the freshmen groups, concerned about water quality
and the environment, approached the Lamar Bruni Vegara Environmental
Center in Laredo about continuing work on a project started by ISA seniors
earlier this year. The
freshman project group was very interested in having ISA seniors work
along them and act as mentors in this endeavor.
The project group worked very hard to sign up a busload of freshman
and seniors for the trip and to fundraise money to make the trip possible.
Thanks to their hard work, they were successful in finding
volunteers and in making the transportation and accommodation arrangements
for the trip.
For the first time at ISA, freshmen and
seniors labored side by side on a community service project.
The work was very difficult and required the best effort of all
involved. The Environmental
Center had already been extremely impressed with the work of ISA seniors
during their February trip to Laredo, so they were pleased to hear that a
group would be coming again. Once
again, ISA students proved to be incredibly hard workers and the Center is
now interested in including ISA in a three year grant to continue building
the hiking trails along the Rio Grande.
Thanks to the success of this project, lead by our freshmen, ISA
continues to earn a reputation for reaching out into our regional
community to do difficult yet rewarding work.
Russell Rowton, Senior Project Sponsor |
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| Tom Miller of the Environmental Center goes over
job descriptions for the day; freshmen project organizers Weston and
Ericka fill out the necessary paperwork required of all volunteer groups
at the Center |
Freshmen Ericka and Weston, along with
teacher/sponsor Russell Rowton, listen to instructions from Tom Miller of
the Environmental Center |
Senior Daniel hauls out fresh supplies of cold
water for the workers; the sun in the middle of the day in Laredo can
really sap your strength |
Freshmen and Seniors divide up their tasks; some
need to dig out the weeds along the trail, some will pitchfork mulch into
wheelbarrows, others will haul the mulch down onto the freshly cleared
paths, and more will work to spread out and pack the mulch down; finally,
heavy logs will be put in place to line the paths |
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| Students coordinate many different jobs to make
sure the path is built with the greatest efficiency. |
Senior boys load up on the Environmental Center
truck to go down to haul out logs to be used to line the hiking trail |
Senior Jewell shows her enthusiasm for working on
the project |
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| Students on a lunch break wait for the pizza to
arrive. |
Students work to pass logs which are used to line
the hiking trails. |
Students work together to spread
out freshly dumped mulch to create the hiking trail. |
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| Freshmen project member Weston relaxes and
hopes for a little peace and quiet on the way back from hard day’s work
in Laredo |
Seniors Will and Ryan help to
feed the crocodiles with Tom Miller – crocodile: “you look finger licking good.” |
Tom Miller from the Environmental Center with the
freshman Make a Difference Project group:
Ericka, Weston, Chris, and Jared. |
After a day of hard labor Tom Miller speaks with
the ISA seniors and freshmen about the very valuable work they completed;
because ISA students have proven themselves to be so productive, the
Environmental Center is hoping to include ISA as part of a three year
grant to build the trails along the Rio Grande |
