Despite what you have read or heard, not all college students head to Florida or Mexico for spring break.

Ten students from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., are working on the current Habitat for Humanity house during this week.

It is part of Habitat’s College Challenge program for students all across the country to help Habitat build homes. During 2011 more than 10,000 high school and college students will participate in building homes in more than 200 affiliate cities.

Hamilton College is located about an hour from Syracuse. It was founded in 1793 and named after Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of treasury, who was a member of the first board of trustees. It has a student enrollment of almost 2,000 and is about 1,400 miles from Natchez.

During the week the students will work primarily on the installation of sheetrock, mudding some of the screw holes and sanding; and more sanding.

Other tasks may include building a back porch and laying down the final plywood floor. Because they will be working a full day, their 400 work hours are the equivalent of six weeks of the regular Habitat schedule. Area churches will be providing many of the meals as will members of the Habitat board of directors.

There will be some free time for visiting antebellum homes, the Historic Natchez Tableaux, and other points of interest to them.

The students will be housed at Community Chapel Church of God on Morgantown Road where another group of students from Boston University will be staying.

The current Habitat for Humanity house is the 15th to be built in Natchez and is located on Zoa Street.

Just go south on Government Fleet Road, turn right on Oscar Street and it will lead you to Zoa.

Please free to stop by one day and see what America’s youth is accomplishing.

Duncan McFarlane

Adams County Habitat for Humanity secretary/treasurer