Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Collegiate Challenge 2015


Hey Everyone! We’re back again with an update for you! Last week, we finally had our collegiate challenge! This year, we had students from Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity come out again and share their hard work and experiences with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County. It was a very fun and rewarding week for them and for all of us as well. We would like to thank them for coming out and spending their entire spring break with us and sharing in this amazing journey to better homes and living for hardworking people. While they were out here, they were able to work at the Trinity Lane site as well as work at the Casa Del Norte Mobile Home Park! Before they left, we had the opportunity to interview some of the students that came out for spring break. One of the people that we interviewed was the group lead, Roy. Here’s what he had to say when we asked him how he felt working with Habitat impacts the students who come here and help out during their spring breaks:

I think that the kids really benefit from seeing the future homeowners come out here and work with them. I think for them to actually see the people that they are really helping, I feel is a really big benefit for them. Also, being a group of engineers, they get to us some of their engineering skills out here on the work site and to see them apply mathematics and science it really gives them that hands on experience they don’t usually get in the classroom. It takes a special type of person to want to give up their spring break to come out here and give their time back and these kids seem to really enjoy the challenge and the excitement of helping these families, as they come out here in the hot sun and work! It’s a lot of fun and they do have a lot of time to also enjoy their spring break as well so I think it’s a very beneficial experience for everyone.

We would like to thank Theta Tau again for coming out here and spending their spring break with us! We look forward to seeing you all again next year! We would also like to thank all of the people in the community who helped make this year’s Collegiate Challenge so wonderful by contributing lunches for the challengers and for providing a place for the students to stay! Thank you to Costco, Wood Ranch, Zapparelli's Pizzeria, Subway, and Don Howald from Camarillo United Methodist Church!





Thursday, March 19, 2015

Future opportunities

Our affiliate has been very blessed in enjoying the hard work and dedication of several interns during the past few months.  This semester, we are fortunate to count on Mr. Robert Modine and his construction and leadership skills.  Rob comes to us from United States Navy and is pursuing a degree in Communication from CSU Channel Islands.  Not only are we grateful for his service to our country, we are also grateful is helping us our as a Crew Lead on our Trinity Lane site in Santa Paula.  

In any case, we recently asked Rob what it is like to be an intern for Habitat Ventura.  Here are his words:

"Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is an amazing organization to be affiliated with.  The staff has gone out of their way to make sure that my needs are met first.  Currently, I spend most of my time on the build site in Santa Paula, CA.  This is where I am blending my past background of construction into my current field of study.  I am a currently a student at CSU Channel Islands, majoring in communication and interning with Habitat for Humanity for a community involvement project.  I am also a Seabee in the United States Navy Reserves and served 5 years of active duty prior to.  It was an easy choice for me when choosing a community partner because of my past construction background in the Seabees and my more current knowledge base that I have gained through the undergrad communication program at Channel Islands.  This blend has made it easier for me to work with groups of volunteers that come from various demographics and teach them how to do multiple tasks.  Habitat is going out of their way for me to not only meet my educational needs, but for me to use this opportunity that will help further my future opportunities".

Rob pictured to the right

Interested in becoming an intern or volunteering with us?  Visit our website at www.habitatventura.org and or contact Rachel McIver at and learn how.