A group of Seton Hill University students, joined by a teacher and her husband, went to rural Kentucky last month as part of the Christian Appalachian Project to help rebuild and renovate some houses for their poverty-stricken owners.

They came home from their version of spring break with a sense of satisfaction and three puppies who will live out their lives with owners here who wanted to give them a chance.

	From left, Stephanie Hilt, Tiffany Brattaina Sister Lindena Brace, Doug Deckert, Lorin Schumacher, Kristen Zappalla and three puppies that now have new homes. Click photo for larger image.

The trip was the first for the Seton Hill University Education Club, which had been looking for a service project, said Joann Migyanka, assistant professor of education at Seton Hill. She and her husband, Paul Migyanka, accompanied the students.

More than ever, Catholic universities are being encouraged to become involved in the social issues in the community, Mrs. Migyanka said. The Education Club chose this project to help fulfill that mission.

The Seton Hill group joined students from five other colleges and universities -- Michigan State, St. Cloud State in Minnesota, University of St. Mary in Kansas, Salve Regina University in Rhode Island and Emerson College in Massachusetts -- March 5-9 to work on the houses of people from rural Owsley and Clay counties. Renovation recipients were chosen through an application process.

"[This trip] was really centered around poverty," Mrs. Migyanka said.

For the most part, the students were split up into different teams.

Braddock Hills resident and Seton Hill senior Tiffany Brattaina helped replace some windows and part of a roof and put up a water barrier around a former tobacco farmer's house.

The English literature and education major said the days were long but productive. They were up at 6:30 a.m., had devotions at 7:15, ate a quick breakfast and were off to their work sites between 7:30 and 8 a.m. They were housed at the Baptist Institute's Camp Andrew Jackson.

Each student paid $125 to cover the costs of room and board.

Ms. Brattaina learned that some of the residents of these rural Appalachian Mountain communities rarely stray from their homes.

"Some people haven't been out of their county. For them, going to the next ridge is a big deal," she said.

Willie, the man who owned the house, also owned the mixed breed dog who had just given birth to puppies six weeks earlier. He thought the puppies were cute but he couldn't afford to keep them.

Ms. Brattaina said Willie told them if no one took them, they would likely be drowned.

One pup, named Rusty, now lives with Ms. Brattaina. Two others came back to Greensburg and were given to people in the area.

It took about seven hours to drive from Greensburg to Kentucky, but it took 12 hours to drive home, Stephanie Hilt said. She is also a senior at Seton Hill and will graduate in May with a degree in psychology, special education and early childhood education.

Bathroom breaks for the puppies accounted for the extra time, Ms. Hilt said.

Even though the pups were diapered, they still needed the breaks, she said.

Both young women said the experience was fulfilling, but probably not long enough.

"I would like to spend more time. I don't think one week was enough," Ms. Hilt said.

The students were briefed on what to expect on their trip so Ms. Hilt wasn't surprised.

She said the tranquil beauty of the place and the attitudes of some of the residents were familiar.

"I come from a rural area," the Salisbury, Somerset County, resident said.

Both young women said they'd go back and hope community service will be in their futures for a long time. Also making the trip were Kristen Zapalla, of Herndon, Va.; Lorin Schumacher, of Middlebury, Ind.; Julianne Sproull, of Apollo; Lindena Brace, of Greensburg; and Doug Deckert, a graduate student from Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Migyanka said she, too, would like to return and knows that skilled workers with a dedication to service work plan their vacations around such programs.

Her husband is a carpenter and enjoyed the experience so much he volunteered to return.

"He's going back in September," Mrs. Migyanka said.