A group of University of Southern Maine students spent their spring break helping Habitat for Humanity replace destroyed housing in Bay St. Louis, Miss., a municipality still reeling from the effects of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The students left on March 24, and will return Saturday, March 31, to USM’s Gorham campus.

Melissa Sheets of Turner, Leavitt Area High School graduate, was among those taking part. She is an art history major in her sophomore year at the college.

Students raised money all this academic year to cover their traveling expenses through a variety of group fundraisers. USM’s Student Senate also donated money to finance the trip, and some students privately raised funds.