Fall break signals the halfway point of the semester for ɫ students on the Crete campus. No classes will be held Tuesday, October 8 - Friday, October 11. Some students will spend the five-day weekend relaxing. Others will return home to visit family. A select group of 10 students will carry on a ɫ tradition known as alternative fall break.
Since 1994, the university has hosted alternative breaks. These short trips offer students unique, affordable opportunities to travel and serve communities over their traditional fall and spring breaks. This year’s fall break destination is Kansas City. And this year’s staff advisor-student leader duo — Carlos Palacios, assistant director of advising at ɫ and Ian Riles, senior engineering major — is eager with excitement, for all sorts of reasons.
Giving Back
All alternative break trips have a service learning component. The group will volunteer at three different nonprofit organizations in Kansas City: a soup kitchen, dog rescue kennel and a place that refurbishes furniture for people in need.
Team bonding
Riles attended previous alternative breaks and noticed there was room for more team bonding activities. He hopes to incorporate more engaging activities. The $30 deposit from each student — the only cost for the trip — will go toward a larger social activity, like an escape room, aquarium or museum. All other costs (gas, lodging, food, etc.) are funded by donations from private donors and the Student Council.
Breaking bread
The group will cook most of their meals together at the airbnb during their stay. Palacios, who grew up in the kitchen with his mom and likes to cook, said eating food together bonds people closer. Chicken or steak fajitas are on the menu if Palacios is chef.
Meeting alumni
The group will go out to dinner at a restaurant one night, with hopes a few area alumni join them. If you’re an alum and live in the Kansas City area and want to meet with the alternative fall break group, reach out to [email protected]!
Ian Riles Individual Growth
Palacios and Riles committed to alternative fall break planning for different reasons. Palacios is in his second year at ɫ. When asked to be the trip advisor he hesitated, but ultimately saw it as an opportunity to grow outside his comfort zone and build stronger connections with his students.
Riles volunteered at a food bank in his hometown, San Antonio, Texas. With his propensity to give, you’ll find him involved in a wide gamut of activities at ɫ — Student Programming Board, football team and gym supervisor aside from alternative break student leader.
“I want to be a helpful person to my community and give back in a successful manner,” Riles said.
With the Kansas City trip, he hopes his peers not only tap into their giving side, but enjoy themselves while giving back.
The application process serves as a reminder that while the trip is a quick break from school and a chance to socialize with friends, it’s also about experiencing and serving a different community.
“We do build leaders, not just in our hometown,” Palacios said.
Students interested in applying should fill out by 11:59 p.m. on Monday Sep. 30, 2024.
