From a press release:

One Hazen High School alum chose to forego the usual hedonistic rituals of spring break this year and opted for some altruism instead.

Ryan Wilkins, a 2009 graduate of Hazen, helped build a house for three orphaned siblings in Baja, Mexico, as part of a Central Washington University program.

Wilkins graduated from the university’s aviation program in 2013, but went with 11 other Central Washington University students and recent grads to Mexico, March 25 to 29. The group flew from Seattle to San Diego, then drove by van across the border. They were met by a small crew of Mexican builders at the build site and a cement slab with anchor bolts.

James Avey, an associate professor in the school’s college of business, led the trip. Avey has helped build homes in Mexico in the past and he sees the trips as opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom.

“The primary principle of leadership is, ‘It’s not about you.’ To go and change someone’s life and come home $1,000 poorer, you can’t get that in a classroom,” Avey said. “Hopefully it will open their eyes and help shape them.”

The group flew from Seattle to San Diego. Then they drove a van across the border. When they arrived at the build site, they were met with a small crew of Mexican builders and a blank canvas. The rest was up to them.

The guys not only provided the labor, but they pitched in cash to pay for the house — about $7,000.

“There were a few weeks there I was like, ‘I’m not sure how I’m going to pay rent to pay for this,’ but that kept it exciting,” Wilkins said about saving for the trip. The new two-bedroom house with a loft went to three siblings: Carlos, 19; Jessica, 17; and Victor, 16. Their father was killed in a house fire and their mother lost her battle with cancer last year.

For Wilkins, the experience pointed out the comforts that Americans take for granted.