Students from NDSU’s emergency management department will have an important role during the upcoming “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project in the Fargo-Moorhead area. An estimated 60 to 70 students will be in charge of check-in for the approximately 4,000 volunteers, tradespersons and personnel from Heritage Homes and “Extreme Makeover” who will be taking part in building a home for a deserving local family.
Carol Cwiak, assistant professor of emergency management, said the students will use skills they demonstrated during the 2009 Red River flood, when they assisted FirstLink organize thousands of volunteer flood fighters.
“This is an opportunity for students to acquire the same skill sets they would use in a disaster event for volunteer management,” Cwiak said. “All the volunteers, the trades, media and VIPs will have to go through them to get on site. It’s very important for ABC that the site be secure.”
According to Cwiak, students are looking forward to the work. “Our students are very excited,” she said. “They are really up for the challenge. They are representing our program, so they know there are expectations for their work. These students have never disappointed me – they always come through.”
Cwiak said the students’ check-in efforts will go on for 10 to 11 days, during project set-up, construction and cleanup.
For more information or to volunteer, go to www.extrememakeoverfm.com.