Some college students spend their spring break relaxing on a beach or hanging out at home, but during this year’s spring break, 30 students will travel to the Mississippi Delta to experience its rich history and to make a difference in the lives of those living in the Delta.
The Mississippi Delta Alternative Spring Break is a three-hour credit history class open for all students who are interested in the Mississippi Delta’s history and culture. Part of the class is a week-long trip to the Delta where students will participate in service and educational activities.
This is the third year of the program, and it was just recently made into a permanent class at Mississippi State University. Jason Ward has been the professor for the class previously, but this year the class will be taught by Karen Senaga.
Senaga, a doctoral student in the history department, worked with Ward on a project focused on the Delta. Senaga said she has always been interested in agriculture and the history of the Delta and looks forward to experiencing the Delta from a service point of view with the students. 
“I am interested in thinking about the Delta in a larger context,” Senaga said. “I think students need to understand that the Delta has developed and has ties to the globe. Hopefully, I can bring that perspective to the class.” 
 
Prior to spring break, students will study the history of the Delta from settlement to the present. During spring break they will visit the Delta. The trip will begin with a worship service in traditionally white and black churches. During the rest of the trip students, will embrace the culture of the Delta through blues music, civil rights and Native-American experiences. Students will also take part in service projects with youth development programs, Mississippi River conservation groups, locally-grown food initiatives and health education organizations. Students will also canoe down the mighty Mississippi River.
After the students return from the Delta, the class structure will consist of a series of seminars from local professionals about issues facing the Delta. One of the guest speakers will be author Francoise Hamlin. Hamlin wrote “Crossroads at Clarksdale,” which is one of the required readings for the class.
Holly Lewis, senior marketing major, said she was enrolled in the class last year and participated in the alternative break trip. Lewis said her favorite part of the trip was building “raise bed gardens” in Sunflower County, Miss.
“It was my favorite because we got to meet some of the neighborhood kids and share with them some vegetables from the garden that we were planting,” Lewis said. “Some of them did not know that certain foods came from the ground. It was amazing to watch them make the connection that we grow our food.”
Registration for the class, which is listed under the course code HI 3342, is going on now. The class will meet on Monday afternoons from 4 to 5:15 p.m. However, one requirement is that students who want to enroll in the class have to email Senaga before they can sign up. This is to make sure that students understand the reading that will be required, as well as make sure they understand the spring break trip, which will cost $200, is not optional. 
Cade Smith, director of student leadership and community engagement, helped start the program three years ago. Smith said one thing he feels deeply about is a quote by 19th century philosopher Herbert Spencer ,who said the great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.
“I want students to understand that they have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to take what they’ve learned and bring new value to the world,” he said.
Students who would like more information about the class can email Karen Senaga at [email protected] or Cade Smith at cade@saffairs.msstate.edu.