Michelle Scribner, of Stacy, was one of University of Minnesota, Morris' students who participated in the 2007 Pay It Forward service trip.

The Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF) students organized and participated in the tour during Spring Break.

The theme of the tour was "007 Mission [im] Possible" reflecting their belief that anything is possible and everyone can make a difference. In six different cities across the nation, the 23 students conducted service projects that exposed them to different communities, various organizations and many issues faced by people and their communities.

In Champaign, Ill., the students volunteered at Lincoln Square Village, Urbana, assisting with the Seventh Annual Read Across America Day. They read with children, made balloon creations, played games and created crafts.

During their time in Lansing, Mich., they worked with the Giving Tree Farm, a non-profit organization that works with the mentally and physically disabled ensuring that they receive nutritious food. They worked on a farm that grows organic food.

On the third day, students organized and filled donation request orders for the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto, Canada. In Syracuse, N. Y., they volunteered at a day care at the oldest Salvation Army in the United States.

One of the group's favorite projects took place in Baltimore, Md., where they worked with AmeriCorps and National Student Partnerships (NSP), a college student-lead, non-profit organization that helps people in need "get back on their feet." The students helped locate companies to sponsor the group and helped find possible clients.

While in Washington, D.C., the group teamed up with seven other busloads of college students from Midwest schools. They worked with the Earth Conservation Corps to clean out a stream connecting to the Anacostia River, one of the dirtiest rivers in the United States.

This year, 15 Pay It Forward Tours with 600 participants, including the UMM students, served nearly 9,000 hours in 77 different communities.

Comment from Greg Tehven, 4/11/07

Thanks for writing this article. I loved it!