Celebrate the 125th anniversary of Viterbo University and help reach the goal of 125,000 hours of service.

There will be an information session for the March 9–13, 2015 spring break service trips at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 in Brophy Center room 123.

Of special interest is the service trip to the Cheyenne River Youth Project on the Cheyenne River (Lakota) Reservation that is part of VUSM 340, The Lakota of the Great Plains history class offered in the spring 2015 semester. As part of the Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP, http://www.lakotayouth.org/), students will work with elementary and middle school students in the Main Youth Center and teens in the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center in the late afternoon and early evening. During the day, participants will volunteer services as needed, doing general cleaning, sorting of donations and gifts, or other tasks. Those on the service trip are responsible for creating and teaching lessons to the elementary and middle school students in a program called Main University (http://www.lakotayouth.org/youth/mainu.html) and presenting information about Viterbo University at a college night for the teens. We will also have opportunities to meet senior citizens for lunch at the senior center, listen to speakers from the community, and meet professionals in various fields such as social work, teachers, and nurses.

Campus Ministry is sponsoring a service trip to Cincinnati to work with the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. The sites vary and depend upon current need. Last year, students worked at Bethany House for homeless and low-income women and children; Canticle Café for the homeless and working poor; Cincinnati Housing Partners home construction and rehab; Drop In Center, the largest homeless shelter; Franciscan Terrace nursing home; and Our Daily Bread, Over-the-Rhine Walnut Hills Kitchen, and Food Pantry. The goal of the week is to provide the participants with a culturally diverse experience while living a simple lifestyle and also applying group and individual prayer throughout the week.

Attend the information session and have your questions answered about these powerful and life-changing opportunities for service. For more information contact Michael Smuksta at mjsmuksta@viterbo.edu or Emilio Alvarez at ebalveraz@viterbo.edu.