April 3, 2009

Photo: Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) Professor of History and Political Science, Scott Cracraft (Gilford – left), removes rocks and gravel at a job site for a Habitat for Humanity house in Laredo, Texas. Joining Cracraft is LRCC Liberal Arts student, Marshall Nye (Center Sandwich – right). Cracraft and Nye, along with other LRCC students, Cassie Tourigny (Belmont), Robyn Marcotte (Hudson), and Andrew Anderson (Laconia), joined Nashua Community College (NCC) students during Spring Break last month working for Habitat for Humanity in a 50-house Hispanic community called "Tierra Pomatita," which means the Promise Land in Spanish. This is the first time that LRCC faculty and students have participated in a Habitat for Humanity project.

"Habitat for Humanity provides low to no interest loans for low income families, allowing them to own their own homes," says Cracraft who has taught at LRCC for 8 years. "Families receiving homes are required to work with the volunteers supplying what Habitat calls ‘Sweat equity.’ We worked with students from other New England colleges at Tierra Pomatita and I was impressed that so many young college students were willing to give up their Spring Break to help others."

This year LRCC students joined the NCC students who have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity before to learn more about the program so that the LRCC Student Senate can arrange its own project next year.

Cracraft was just nominated for the Campus Compact Award for community and student service based upon his dedication to students and student activities. Cracraft will be featured at a luncheon in Nashua on April 14 and be presented with the Award.