A number of Hope College students from the area participated in spring break service and mission trips last month.

This year about 400 Hope College students spent their spring break, March 12-21, on service and mission trips around the world. A total of 29 trips were planned with destinations across the U.S. as well as in Central and South America.

Amy Blum, a sophomore from Saline, traveled with fellow members of Habitat for Humanity to Valdosta, Ga. to work through Habitat for Humanity International’s "Collegiate Challenge" program in building houses with other college students from around the country.

Allison Dishnow, a sophomore from Saline, traveled to Newark, N.J. with a group of students to work with World Impact, an inner city ministry, to tutor children and offer some retail training to residents.

Kerilyn Harkaway, a senior from Saline, traveled to Hollywood, Calif. with a group of students to work with the Gateway City Center in ministering to people in the city through evangelism and providing for food and clothing needs.

Ben Iliev, a senior from Saline, journeyed to Clincho, Va. with a group of students to work with McClure River Valley Community Development in offering home improvement assistance to area residents.

Stephen Osterling, a junior from Saline, traveled to Memphis, Tenn. with a group of students to work with Service Over Self in providing improvement assistance to homeowners in the inner city community.