Our Crowdfunding Groups
This March, Honors Alternative Spring Break (HASB) students will embark on a week-long trip to Los Angeles, CA. During the trip, we will focus on the homelessness crisis and how it impacts the people of Los Angeles. We will visit LA-based service organizations such as Food on Foot, Union Rescue Mission, Love Without Reason (Lunch On Me), and Youth Emerging Stronger.
HASB gives students the opportunity to travel during spring break to a new community, where we will work with partner organizations to accomplish specific goals and improve the local communities. In addition to our week of service, we aim to grow as learners and bring back ideas that we can implement in our own communities. This experience teaches us what it means to be engaged and responsible citizens, which we find to be rewarding, eye-opening and life-altering.
Organization sites:
Building On Our Success
This will be the seventh year HASB has spent time in Los Angeles! We choose L.A. every year because of the amazing experience students have and the relationships that we continue to build within the community.
Meet Our Team!
Rohini Saran
My name is Rohini and I am a freshman at the University of Arizona. Majoring in Computer Science, I access the world through my keyboard. However, I wanted to experience the hardships of the homeless firsthand, which is why I joined HASB LA. Helping the homeless in Los Angeles will not only broaden my mind, but it will also give me the chance to make a change for the better.
Kyle Johnson
My name is Kyle Johnson and I am a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering! I love working on hands-on projects and appreciate being able to collaborate with others. My favorite activities including hiking, dancing, and volunteering!
Hayden Kim
I’m Hayden, and I’m a freshman majoring in Optical Engineering and minoring in Astronomy and Math. I am an Honors College Ambassador, a member of the Society of Women Engineers, and the Grant Writing Assistant of Engineers Without Borders. I joined HASB in order to aid those I see on the news day to day. Seeing people with hardships made me genuinely appreciate what I have in life that they do not, but it also kindled an aspiration to actually help them. Honors Alternative Spring Break is the perfect opportunity for me to spend a very meaningful Spring Break by aiding those who might not have the privilege to do so for others. I am very excited to go on this trip to Los Angeles and I believe this will allow me to gain a wider perspective of people from all walks of life.
Hannah Parr
My name is Hannah Parr, I am a junior majoring in law with a minor in family studies and human development. I joined HASB because I want to learn how to be better equip to help the less fortunate so I can have the knowledge to help our community. Thank you for your love and support!
Catherine Demotica
Hello! My name is Catherine Demotica. I am a first-year transfer student from Pima Community College (PCC) and am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health at the University of Arizona. After graduating from high school in 2017, I was unsure about what career I wanted to pursue, so I decided to attend PCC to help me discover my passion before I entered university. Through some of my classes, I became increasingly interested in the field of infectious diseases after creating projects about diseases such as foodborne illnesses and measles. This interest soon became a passion of mine when I was selected to be in the 2019 AZ-HOPE Summer Bridge program for future health professionals. Since that pivotal summer, I have decided to pursue a career as an infectious disease epidemiologist so I can track outbreaks and research diseases so that others can live happier, healthier, and longer lives.
Cassandra Smith
My name is Cassandra Smith, and I am currently a freshman at the University of Arizona Honors College from Chandler, Arizona. I am currently studying Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biochemistry with minors in Spanish and Health and Human Values. I am very excited to have the opportunity to participate in Honors Alternative Spring Break in Los Angeles! I look forward to learning more about issues in my community and aiding the homeless population, often overlooked by society and denied resources necessary to maintain healthy lives. I hope this experience will shape my perspective of the world around me and encourage me to make a difference in the lives of people in need. Thank you for supporting our cause!
Brianna Nicolson
Hello! My name is Brianna and I am a freshman majoring in pre-veterinary science and minoring in natural resources. One day I hope to apply to vet school and focus on small animal as well as conservation medicine. Throughout high school I did various community service projects but mostly centered around animals. The one that had the largest impact on me was when I trained a service dog for two years to assist a veteran. After doing this I realized how much of a difference I was able to make in someone’s life. As secretary of my high school’s National Honor Society I also learned how to organize and lead volunteer projects. Once I heard about the Honor’s Alternative Spring Break I knew that it would be a fantastic opportunity for me to utilize my background of community service and learn more about the homeless population through a hands-on experience. I hope that this trip will allow me to gain a greater perspective on this community and how students are best able to get involved.
Mikaela McGuire
My name is Mikaela. I am a sophomore at the UofA studying physiology, global studies, and Spanish. After graduation, I am looking forward to pursuing a career in global medicine. In the meantime, at UofA, I am enjoying being involved in clubs, discovering new passions, and taking part in new opportunities- like HASB. I joined HASB LA because I want to use my platform at the university to learn more about issues that are prevalent in my community and across the United States. Thank you for supporting our cause!
Provides gas for transportation in LA. We can't wait for the traffic!
Covers half the cost of one student's entire HASB trip.
