Knights Venture Beyond Middle Georgia With the Alternative Break Program

Author: Myr’lice’ Dickens-Morse
Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 12:00 AM
Categories: School of Arts and Letters | School of Aviation | Students | Faculty/Staff | School of Education and Behavioral Sciences | School of Health and Natural Sciences | Pressroom | School of Business | School of Computing

Macon, GA

Editor’s note: MGA media & communication major Myr’lice’ Dickens-Morse is an intern in the University’s Office of Marketing & Communications. This article is a first-person account of her alternative spring & fall break experiences.

Attending alternative spring and fall break has been a truly eye-opening experiencing as a Middle Georgia State University (MGA) student wanting to reach beyond my home communities.

The alternative break program consists of planned trips during University holidays that take students to other cities and communities to not only learn and explore new places but also to embrace and serve the communities that we travel to. As someone who has been granted the amazing opportunity to have gone on more than one of these trips, I can truly say that this experience is invaluable.

Last spring, the Office of Student Life and Devereaux Lindsey, the assistant director for Greek Life and Community Service, accompanied me and 10 other students to Savannah, Ga., on a three-day trip, where we collaborated with the Salvation Army to help them with multiple tasks within their store and warehouse. The past fall I joined Lindsey and other students for a five-day trip to Chattanooga, Tenn., where we had the amazing opportunity to work with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and the McKamey Animal Center.

I spoke to a student that participated in both alternative break trips, Amadi Gaines. Gaines said that she wanted to apply for the opportunity because she “thought it would be a good networking opportunity and that it would help me with volunteering as I find it hard to find time to volunteer.”

Our most recent journey beyond Georgia state lines was for spring break 2025 in sunny Destin, Fla.

During our time in Destin, we completed four opportunities over the course of our two designated service days. All of the opportunities had different missions but were for the same purpose, to outreach and help communities beyond our own. We spent time with the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Habitat for Humanity of Walton Country, as well as Food for Thought Destin. During our free time on the trip, we were able to go on ocean excursions, visit the beach, and visit other great places in the Destin-Fort Walton area.

This program is a great opportunity that allows students reach beyond their regular environments and embrace volunteerism in a fun way. We are given the chance to explore and support causes and social issues that are important and priorities for us, from caring for animals to food insecurity to resource access.

The alternative service break program truly embodies MGA’s four core values of stewardship, engagement, adaptability, and learning.

If you are interested in participating in this great experience, I suggest keeping a close eye on the MGA Knight Life webpage and your email for updates about future alternative breaks and the opportunity to apply for this experience.