UCM Students Spend Spring Break Volunteering in Puerto Rico

Students and employees from the University of Central Missouri and other Global Volunteers representatives pose for a
photo during the UCM Global Vision group’s visit to Puerto Rico in mid-March.

 

While most students were relaxing and enjoying some time off from classes, nine students and two employees from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) spent their spring break in service of others.

The group spent a week in Aguada, Puerto Rico, as part of UCM’s Global Vision scholarship program in partnership with Global Volunteers. The program offers any UCM student the opportunity to travel domestically or internationally while giving back to the community they visit. Selected students receive a scholarship that covers airfare, meals, room and board during their service learning trip.

Global Vision expands the possibilities for those who wouldn’t typically consider studying abroad. UCM is the only university offering this scholarship to student travelers. Annual trips take place during spring, winter, and summer breaks.

Students on the 2025 spring break trip were Ariella Allen, Yatish Appanapalli, Jada Boddy, Chloe Majumder, Abiodun Adebola Omoike, Jasmine Outlaw, Caroline Sliger, Olivia Smith and Deaihra Washington. They were accompanied by Katie Jacobs, Ph.D., professor of Psychological Science, and Ed Wirthwein, director of Community Standards and Support.

During their week-long visit, the UCM group provided more than 250 hours of service at Programa de Apoyo y Enlace Comunitario Inc. (PAEC), Asociación Pro-Bienestar Barrio Marías de Aguada Inc. and Acción Social de PR Inc. The teams helped pack boxes of food to be distributed to families in need, visited with senior citizens in the community and helped remodel a building for one of the organizations. They also had the opportunity to learn about Puerto Rican history and tour the community.  

“It was a great trip,” Wirthwein said. “Our students represented UCM so well in Puerto Rico. I am so proud of them and the work they did. Our students were amazing in Puerto Rico and they have made an impact.”

Many students said their time in Puerto Rico left a lasting impression and encouraged others to apply for the Global Vision scholarship.

Caroline Sliger, a senior Industrial Engineering Technology major from Kirkwood, spent most of her service time filling hundreds of boxes at the food bank. She also visited Acción de Social, a community center for senior citizens. There, a group of women taught her how to play dominoes, and she managed to accumulate the most points possible in her very first game.

“I will never forget how excited they were to have someone to talk to and play with,” Sliger recalled.

Sliger said her time in Puerto Rico helped her understand more about the world, and she left with new perspectives on food insecurity and loneliness.

“What I witnessed in Puerto Rico was amazing, and it opened my eyes to a lot of situations,” Sliger said. “Being able to volunteer and witness another culture is something that everyone should do at least once in their life.”

Deaihra Washington, a senior from Kansas City majoring in Health Studies, and Jada Boddy, an Accounting senior from Woodland Park, Colorado, helped organize supplies and paint doors at PAEC, an organization that supports local youth. They also spent time at Acción de Social.

“One of my main highlights from the trip was seeing the smiles on the director and her staff's faces when they saw how hard we had worked for their facilities,” Washington said. “My favorite part of the trip was exploring Aguadilla, Aguada and Rincon with our team lead, Yani.”

Boddy applied for the Global Vision scholarship to learn more about other cultures. After a week volunteering in Puerto Rico, she said the experience changed her life and she plans to participate in more service opportunities.

“My favorite part was feeling that I truly impacted the lives of those at the community center,” Boddy said. “The workers and participants were extremely grateful, so it felt as if we really contributed. I also loved genuinely making connections with the community and learning about the history of Puerto Rico.”

For more information about Global Vision at UCM, visit ucmo.edu/globalvision.