UIC Volunteers

My sister says that bad things happen in threes. I doubt there’s anything scientific about her statement, but I’m inclined to agree with her. If there is a similar admonition concerning good things, I’m not aware of it. However, I can say with respect to Collegiate Challenge and Pontotoc County Habitat for Humanity, good things came in threes this year.

This year, for three straight weeks, college students from three separate institutions of higher learning traveled to Pontotoc to work as volunteers on two houses being constructed for two deserving families. The first group flew in from Brunswick, Maine, the second drove over from Georgia and the third drove down from Chicago. The first two groups were a delight for all who met them or worked with them. The third and most recent group was no less delightful than the others, and may have been more diverse. Of the ten students from the University of Illinois at Chicago, there were two students from India, two from Korea, and one from Puerto Rico.

There was considerable diversity among the degrees which the students were seeking. Priya and Maggie (picture on page 2) are striving for medical degrees, with Priya wanting to be a Physicians Assistant and Maggie an MD. Korean natives, Beckie and Sarah (their American names) are Business majors. Lisa, the runt of the litter (also the group’s leader) is majoring in Nutrition. Greg, the lone accounting major, aspires to become a CPA. Archit, from India,
is studying to become a Computer Engineer. Carla is majoring in Education and Rana, pronounced to rhyme with Brenna, is seeking a Masters in MIS (Information Services). Last, but not least, Sam or Samantha, is working on a graduate degree in Sociology.

Keith Thomas, construction supervisor had words of praise for the work effort of all the groups and noted of the Chicago group, "None of them knew what to do when they got here, but they all stepped up to the task and were willing to do anything I asked them to do."

In the four days they worked on the job site, the group was able to get the house framed and almost "in the dry." Of course, these inexperienced carpenters were well supervised by Keith and his assistant Rachel Walker and a couple of local volunteers. Continue reading>>