ICYMI

In April 2026, The Chandler Center celebrated another successful year of service and social action at the 16th annual Community Engagement Awards. This year’s celebration marked The Chandler Center’s 20th anniversary, honoring not only current students, but also the alumni who helped build a lasting legacy of community engagement.  Alumni were featured on posters, through video, and presented awards to current students recognized in six distinguished categories. 

James Duffy Outstanding Service-Learner Award: 

• Shelby DeLuca for her work with Math Buddies 

• Ava Constantine for her contributions at the Salvation Army's Kid's Cafe program 

Nick Carey Outstanding Alternative Break Leader Award: 

• Abigail Busby for her leadership on the trip to Washington D.C. focused on food justice 

Outstanding Breakthrough Advisor Award: 

• Carl Desir & Tu Anh Dong for their guidance, mentorship, and leadership with Breakthrough scholars 

Outstanding Volunteer Award: 

• Thien Nguyen for completing 52 hours of service, including 16.5 hours on an Alternative Break in Costa Rica focused on environmental sustainability, along with projects like Lasagna Love, Rise Against Hunger, and the Manchester Diaper Pantry 

• Nicole Mirra for completing 33 hours of service across initiatives including Lasagna Love, the New Hampshire Food Bank, and the Humane Society for Greater Nashua 

Ethan Wasiejko Emerging Leader Award:

• Kristen Regis-McGee for her advocacy and volunteerism around food insecurity 

Eleanor Dunfey-Freiburger Vision for Change Award:

• Thomas Sperounis for his dedication to strengthening student community engagement through impactful marketing and his continued commitment to all Chandler Center programs 

Alongside community and campus partners, attendees reflected on the past academic year, during which the SNHU campus community and online students completed more than 14,100 hours of community service through service-learning, college access programming, volunteering in the local community, and participating in service-based travel experiences. 129 students were also recognized during the ceremony for completing 25 or more hours of service throughout the past year. Additionally, graduates who logged over 100 volunteer hours during their SNHU journey were honored with orange graduation cords. The graduates wore the cords at their Commencement ceremonies to represent their amazing accomplishment. Watch the recording or view photos from the celebration. 

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In March, SNHU students spent their academic break stepping outside the classroom and into communities across the country and internationally through Alternative Break trips organized by The Chandler Center. From Washington, D.C. to Costa Rica, students engaged in hands-on service addressing issues like food equity, environmental sustainability, disaster recovery and education, gaining real-world experience while supporting communities in meaningful ways. As The Chandler Center marks its 20th anniversary, Alternative Break continues to reflect its commitment to connecting service with student learning and personal growth. 

This year, with four trips taking place across the country and internationally, 41 students and 8 faculty/staff advisors completed over 714 hours of service.  

Through hands-on work and teamwork, students built new skills by navigating real-world challenges. Bringing together participants from a wide range of majors and interests, these trips offer a shared experience rooted in service, learning, and belonging.  

Costa Rica 

“The Chandler Center’s mission is about learning, it’s about service, it’s about reflection; all three of those were completely the focus of our journey to Costa Rica,” said Pamela Beckvagni, Costa Rica trip staff advisor. “That's what The Chandler Center is all about, teaching people how to be leaders with dignity, respect, and reflection. What did you learn from this? What did you think we were going to experience, and what did we really experience? Where's the disconnect and the connect? Where were the assumptions made? It was truly incredible learning.”  

For student coordinator Laken Graham, that growth was immediate. 

“With Alternative Break, there are skills that you might not have a lot of experience with. But when you work together and you're all going through it at the same time, you learn that you're capable of a lot more than you think," said Laken.  

This impact is evident in the Costa Rica group, where their work focused on environmental sustainability and community partnership. While there, students collaborated with a local school to build a community garden, install a rainwater catchment system, and construct hillside stairs to help prevent erosion. Beyond their service work, the group gained firsthand insight into how climate change is affecting the village and explored the country’s cacao production, learning how chocolate is made and its role in Costa Rica’s economy.  

Valdosta, Georgia

While in Valdosta, Georgia, the focus was on disaster recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Partnering with local disaster relief organizations, students were able to rebuild homes for individuals and families to move back into. Students learned about gaps and delays in disaster response and the intersections between poverty and disaster relief.  

Washington, D.C.

Over in Washington, D.C. the focus of the trip was food equity and advocacy. Students participated in learning sessions with DHS Service Center to understand the process of applying for SNAP benefits and challenges individuals may face, and with CHEPP, where they learned how to speak with Congress and Senate staff to advocate for issues they are passionate about. Afterwards the group got to put this learning into action on Capitol Hill. Time was also spent volunteering with food pantries and kitchens and learning more about nonprofit work and the role they have in helping people in need.  

Belize 

For the third year in partnership with SNHU’s Department of Education and the Placencia International Academy in Belize, students were able to work with teachers in Placencia to develop learning strategy plans for students. With two facultymembers, students supported teachers in implementing special education strategies in the classroom as well as planning a community night for families and offering after-school tutoring. This allowed Placencia teachers to attend professional development sessions with SNHU faculty and help foster a cross-cultural learning environment. 

“Having the international support and the international community come in and offer their skills and their knowledge enhances and greatly impacts our work here,” said Loretta Logan, principal and current owner of Placencia International Academy in Belize.  

As these Alternative Break trips continue to grow, they remain rooted in the same purpose that inspired their creation: a commitment to hands-on, meaningful service and learning. Students are not only contributing to communities in need but also gaining a deeper awareness of the world around them. 

“These trips extend far past the six days we are there, but continues into our community, into our classrooms as these students are no longer strangers but lifelong friends. As they have come home with new meaning, and a fiery passion for a cause that has become so important to them. It’s magical, it really is,” said Karin Heffernan, Georgia trip staff advisor.  

As The Chandler Center celebrates its 20th anniversary, the impact of Alternative Break is evident not just in the hours served or projects completed, but in the lasting connections formed and the personal growth of every student who steps outside the classroom and into service. 

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