01/22/18 

HAYS, Kan. – Sixteen volunteers from Fort Hays State University’s Tigers In Service recently traveled to Houston, Texas, for an alternative winter break focused on community service.

Over the course of four days, students performed a combined 448 hours of service at the Houston Food Bank by preparing food, packaging meals, packaging emergency care kits and assisting with clean-up. The 15,000 meals packaged by Tigers In Service will be distributed to soup kitchens, meal sites and the Backpack Buddy and Kids Café programs.

The Houston Food Bank is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to hunger relief charities. As one of the largest food banks in the nation, it played a significant role in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Tigers In Service, an initiative in FHSU’s Center for Civic Leadership, is a student-operated program that acts as a clearinghouse for college students who want to participate in community service activities.

Students with hometown and major are listed alphabetically.

Kialani Brooks, Kansas City, is a sophomore.

Chase Buntain, Great Bend, is a senior majoring in biology and German.

Fatima Contreras, Salina, is a sophomore majoring in graphic design.

Morgan Contreras, Hays, is a sophomore majoring in organizational leadership and communication studies.

Alexandra Depew, Wichita, is a sophomore in the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science.

Kailee Gibson, Ozawkie, is a senior majoring in chemistry.

Katherine Hernandez, Liberal, is a junior majoring in medical diagnostic imaging and Spanish.

Roy Koech, Russell, is a junior majoring in criminal justice.

Zane Littell, Hugoton, is a senior majoring in chemistry.

Carla Parra-Martinez, Garden City, the student coordinator for Tigers In Service, is a senior majoring in communication studies.

Amanda Ray, Norton, is majoring in nursing.

Ali Sedbrook, Thornton, Colo., a graduate student pursing a Master of Professional Studies, is a graduate assistant in the Center for Civic Leadership.

Samantha Stewart, Abilene, is a freshman majoring in biology.

Jasmine Turley, Beloit, is a junior majoring in biology.

Yuchen Wang, Xi’an, China, a graduate student pursing a Master in Liberal Studies with a concentration in digital cinema design, is a graduate assistant in the Department of Communication Studies.

Students were accompanied by Brittney Squire, coordinator of student involvement.