During spring break, a group of 10 University of Denver students banded together and explored and served the city of Denver in a week-long DU-sponsored Urban Immersion Program.

Getting around on public transportation, sleeping in a hostel, touring Colorado Coalition for the Homeless facilities and getting acquainted with the Five-Points area comprised the activities of the students’ week, according to the Denver Post.

The week-long program, run through the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, ran from Sunday, March 19 through Friday, March 24. It was one of four alternative breaks DU offered.

The immersion project had the three major themes of homelessness, immigration and education, according to first-year graduate student Katie Rickel, a participant in the program.

“Each day we would speak with different key leaders or individuals in the city on the themes,” said Rickel.

Those local leaders included former Gov. Dick Lamm, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennett, as well as local nonprofit organizations, including Rights for all People and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

Glenn Fee, director of the Community Action Program at DU, put together the program after he said he felt students would be interested in it, and selected the students by an application process for this year’s pioneer Urban Immersion.

Fee said that the program will continue next year.

Many of the students in the Urban Immersion became acquainted with and involved in the city of Denver for the first time.

“I moved here about eight months ago. A major reason I went on this trip was so that I could feel more connected to the city,” said Rickel.

The immersion encouraged the continuation of community engagement for those involved.

“The program is unique. We work for one week, but we can continue [serving], keep our connections to the city, and take ownership over that,” said Rickel.

Alternative spring breaks are not solely a DU trend. Like the three other alternative breaks on which DU sent a total of about 100 students, college students nationwide spent their spring break this year participating in service projects, such as assisting in the Katrina clean-up effort or building projects in Mexico and Central America.

To find out about summer alternative breaks or other opportunities for service, visit the Center’s Web site at www.du.edu/engage.