HABiTAT For HuMANiTy AmID The buzz oF A TAble sAW AnD ClATTeR oF For nearly a decade, Bellarmine university has played hammers that rose from a skeletal home in Louisville’s host to the highly-competitive Governor Scholars Program, russell neighborhood in June, about two dozen sweating where gifted rising seniors from around the state vie for high-school students pushed wheelbarrows full of build- a chance to spend five weeks living on campus, taking en- ing supplies, fastened windows into bare frames and richment courses and field trips and doing service projects. hammered siding to a wall. This summer, the students came from 93 of Kentucky’s Luke Ackermann, 17, one of the young volunteer 120 counties. student builders who were all temporary residents of This year marked the 30th anniversary of the program, Bellarmine university during the five-week Governor’s and organizers wanted to do something big to mark the Scholars program, finished a morning’s worth of work occasion. But “instead of throwing a big gala, we decided and looked up at the quickly-rising house being swarmed we’d throw our efforts into helping the community,” said by fellow scholars. Bryan rich, who directs the program at Bellarmine, one in just five short weeks, the vacant lot on Madison of three Kentucky colleges to welcome the more than Street would be turned into a brand new Habitat for 1,000 scholars this year. Humanity house – one that would give a Somali refugee The program pitched in $40,000 toward the home, family their first permanent home. “Doing something for along with the helping hands guided by skilled laborers and this family is really meaningful, and we’re learning a lot Habitat project leaders. The aid, Mr. rich said, made a big about the idea of home as a safe place,” said Luke, who difference in a family’s life and “showed our scholars that is from Gallatin County. they too can...make a positive change for the community.” 28 bellarmine magazine
Bellarmine Magazine_Fall2012
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