UNH Hamel Scholars’ Disaster Relief Trip to Southern Vermont
UNH’s Hamel Scholars will be traveling to Windham County, Southern Vermont on April 29, 2012 to assist with cleanup and rebuilding from Vermont’s recent storm damage. The students, coming from every college and year group at UNH, are hard at work on planning the event and have already formed task committees to organize the project.
The Hamel Scholarship program was established in 2008 by longtime UNH benefactor Dana Hamel and his family to draw top in-state students who excel in community service and leadership as well as academics to UNH. The program is made up of two components: Hamel Family Scholarships, which are awarded to incoming first year New Hampshire Residents with a strong community service record, and Hamel Scholars awards, which are extended to rising juniors from any state who are selected by their respective college dean. In addition to receiving individual scholarships, the Hamel students meet as a group for regular topic-focused luncheons, peer mentoring, and other leadership development activities. Mr. Hamel will also be assisting with the cost of supplies for the students’ service project.
The program’s coordinator, Briana Cribeyer, says that the decision to work in the Southern Vermont area “originated when students felt the desire to spread their efforts to our neighbors for disaster relief assistance."
Justin Walker ‘13, the communications point man for the Logistics and Travel Committee, says that his biggest task right now is gathering supplies, a task which “wasn’t too difficult last year because when we asked for donations most businesses were more than willing to help.”
In her second year as a Hamel Scholar, Kerry Murchie ‘12 is enthusiastic about the opportunity to help Vermont communities, “I think it will be an exciting challenge to plan an event outside of our immediate community and I think partnering with disaster relief organizations in Vermont will be a fantastic opportunity for UNH students to show that we care about problems outside of the Seacoast.”
Planning is in its early stages, but quickly gathering steam and the Scholars are excited to further develop the project. The students may call upon the Seacoast community in the coming months with donation drives for essential items for the Vermont community once they have better assessed the area’s needs.
Contact:
Briana Cribeyer, briana.cribeyer@gmail.com
Kerry Murchie, 207-232-6916, kea56@unh.edu
Press Release Dated: 1/19/12