From surfboards to snowboards, Black Hills State University students and staff are preparing for a week’s worth of fun this upcoming spring break in March.

Spring break is a time to relax, sit back, and enjoy the break for as long as possible because it flies by fast. Surprisingly, many students aren’t traveling very far this break due to lack of funds and busy work schedules. But among the many students who can’t afford a nice trip, a few BHSU students are taking advantage of their last spring break at college.

Chase Vogel, a business communications major, will head to the west coast in March. Vogel and his friend Courtney Gross, another BHSU student, will make their way through Vancouver, British Columbia; Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; and Boise, Idaho.

“Courtney and I have been planning this trip for over two months now and we’ll be sure to have a blast on it! We hope to try many unique and delicious coffees and foods while traveling around these places,” said both Vogel and Gross.

“We’re at a time in our lives where we may not be able to visit these places — when we’re older, so we’ll enjoy all the little and big opportunities that come our way now,” they added.

Ellen Pustejovsky, an accounting and photography major at BHSU, is also hitting the open road in March on a trip to Utah. Pustejovsky said she’ll spend most of her time photographing, hanging out with friends, and site-seeing.

Some students are taking the traditional route, and heading home for the holiday to spend time with their families. Paige Austin, an early childhood and education major, is heading across the border to Gillette, Wyo. to visit her family, friends, and fianc.

“My fianc and I have so many wedding plans to go over before the big day this coming June. Even with the help from both our families, I’m very thankful for the week break so he and I have time to focus on us and the arrangements for our wedding,” said Austin.

Brandi Roetzel an art education student at BHSU, will also be heading home. Roetzel said she can’t wait to be home with her parents and spend time with them at their home in Custer, S.D. She said that as much as she’d like to go someplace warm like the Bahamas’ this break, being home sounds just as good.

Lorrin Anderson will be heading to her hometown in Winner, S.D. but she’ll be bringing her schoolwork with her.

“I am finishing up my internship in order to graduate this spring at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in the marketing and communications department,” said Anderson.
She said that won’t be receiving much of a break, but she’s happy to be accomplishing her internship with an outcome of graduating on time.

Faculty members are taking their homework with them as well. Gina Gibson a digital communications professor, said she will be spending her break indoors grading assignments.

Whether they’re headed miles away, or staying in the Black Hills area, this break will be a both a time of relaxation and a time to play “catch up” for students, staff and faculty.