SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University students and staff recently returned from the university’s fifth annual mission trip to Mississippi.

While in Calhoun City and Morton, Miss., the Briar Cliff mission team taught in after-school programs, tutored at the local elementary school, painted and spruced up around the community. They also assisted at a local adult day care center and worked in a food pantry and soup kitchen.

“On this mission trip, students learned a lot about poverty and its effects,” said Sister Janet May, O.S.F., director of BCU campus ministry. “They now have a better understanding of the roots of poverty. Hopefully, they will educate others about racism, poverty and prejudices.” 

In Calhoun City, which is two hours south of Memphis, Sister Kathy Knipper, Ed.D., O.S.F., assistant professor of education at Briar Cliff University, led BCU students Katie Kruckenberg, Julia Peters, Allie Pollich, Jaimie Schwery, Joe Wanning, Jason Pulliam and Emily Paxton.          

In Morton, Miss., located east of Jackson, Sister Janet May led BCU students Breanna Garcia, Roxana Gomez, Mary Brija, John Martinez, Rickey Miller, Kelsey Homan, Travis Schumacher and John Mullin.

As a part of their mission work, the BCU team combined efforts with the Sisters of Saint Francis of Dubuque, who work in Calhoun City and Morton. Franciscan Sisters from Dubuque are the founding group of Briar Cliff.

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 26 states and four countries.  Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.