Photo Illustrations by McClatchy Tribune

Spring Break 2009 is upon us and the smell is sweet!

And while it seems that in the current economy most students won̢۪t be traveling this spring, there seems to be a greater buzz going around about alternative plans right here in our own backyard.

At last week’s Spring Break Extravaganza, sponsored by Associated Students, Inc., the Traffic Safety office grant, USU productions, Health Promotion and Wellness Services and Social Norms, one of the many features was a section dedicated exclusively to volunteer opportunities — targeting students who will be sticking around for spring break, and want to donate their time to others.

Mellissa Jessen, who is the assistant director for the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, said that it̢۪s not only the economy that seems to have students interested in staying close to home for the break.

“I honestly believe that the newer generations that are coming through are more interested in service,â€Â Jessen said.

“I think that they’re a little bit more aware of needs in the community and they’re more connected as well.â€Â

Jessen said that universities across the nation have seen a growing trend in alternative break programs for the past decade and that student involvement is at its highest.

“A lot of them [alternative programs] are student driven—students are asking and calling for opportunities to engage in service over their breaks,â€Â Jessen said.

In lieu of alternative break options on many other campuses, Fresno State is piloting their own form of the growing trend and hopes to make it a staple on campus.

“We are in partnership with USU Productions and are piloting an alternative spring break program this semester with a few students, who have been selected already, who will be engaged in service projects around the community,â€Â Jessen said.

“Hopefully what it means, is that in the future we will have a permanent spring break program on campus for students to engage in services over the break.â€Â

Although the spots have already been filled for this year̢۪s test drive of Fresno State̢۪s alternative break program, Jessen said that there are plenty more opportunities for students that would like to volunteer this next week.

“Students that would be interested in serving over the break can come in our office anytime and we would be happy to sit down with them and find out what they’re interested in.â€Â Jessen said.

“We’ll see if there is a particular type of service that may fit with their major, or just their general interest, or at the very least can point them to the right people or agencies that they can contact for opportunities available in the area.â€Â

Jessen said that if a student̢۪s availability doesn̢۪t allow them to stop by the office, there are many ways to find volunteer opportunities online as well.

“One of our recommendations is to visit: volunteerfresno.org, the Web site for HandsOn Central California. The Web site features different activities, upcoming volunteer opportunities and things like that,â€Â Jessen said.

“I think there is even a way to search by date.â€Â