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Boston College students travel to Charlotte for week of service

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — About 14 Boston College students will be spending their spring break, from Sunday through Friday, working on various service projects with residents of Charlotte as part of the university's alternative spring break program.

The students are members of the Appalachia Volunteers Program, commonly known as "Appa," which was founded in 1979 and is one of the nation's oldest alternative spring break programs.

"We are looking forward to traveling to North Carolina with the hope that we can take the pillars of the Appalachia program of love, learn and serve, and apply these characteristics to our everyday work while immersing ourselves into the local community," trip leader Courtney Sepe said.

The group visiting Charlotte is one of Boston College's 36 spring break service trips this year.

While the program has been traditionally rooted in the Appalachian region, it has recently expanded into urban areas of the United States, including Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Philadelphia. Throughout the year, the 500 student participants engage in conversations around service, faith, justice and community, all of which culminates in a week of service and solidarity during Boston College's spring break.