BG Alternative Breaks

Hello, my name is Mark Rochester and I am a senior studying communication, with a focus in marketing. I am from Bowling Green, OH and I like to keep myself busy at BGSU as much as I can. On-campus organizations that I am involved in are BG Alternative Breaks, as the Community Relations Chair, President’s Leadership Academy, and the Department of Communication Student Ambassador Program.

The group that I am raising money for is BG Alternative Breaks (bGAB). This is an organization on campus that is focused on fighting issues of social injustice by sending students on trips to communities experiencing these challenges. We combat issues that are currently pressing in today’s society and try to make a positive impact. On my first trip, I visited Murphy, NC and worked with a watershed coalition. I have been part of this program for four years and it is something that has helped me have a great BGSU experience!

I choose BG Alternative Breaks to raise money for because this organization is something that is so beneficial to students that I want to help it grow. Not only does bGAB impact communities that are visited, but it also positively impacts BGSU students. In bGAB, there are so many different opportunities for students to get involved. Students can start off as a participant on a trip and go somewhere to give back to a community. Students can also become a site leader for the program and create their own trip focused on a social issue of their choice. We collaborate as a team to make sure we have quality trips designed with a purpose of improving the surrounding environment. I want to see this organization grow and be able to send students on bigger trips that fight social justice issues. I think this is a program that provides numerous positive service opportunities for students and is a way that they can work towards being an active citizen in their own communities.

I hope that you will consider a gift today to assist students in positively impacting communities through BG Alternative Breaks!